Congress has officially passed the Matthew Shepard Act, allowing stronger sentencing for hate crimes and protection for people based on gender expression and sexual orientation. However, Sen. Jeff Sessions added a provision to the bill that would require a death sentence penalty in some instances. LGBT activists hope this provision is removed before the Defense Department amendment goes to the President.

A study conducted by Transgender Europe and German-language journal Liminalis found that the murder rate for transgender people is on a troubling rise. Of the 200 murders counted worldwide between January 2008 and June 2009, most took place in North and Latin America. The United States was found to be the second most dangerous nation, after Brazil, for transgender people.

This troubling statistic has also played out in a number of specific situations. On Friday, July 17, Dwight DeLee was found guilty of first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime in the death of transwoman Lateisha Green last November. He faces 10-25 years in prison at his sentencing hearing on August 18. Following a military coup in Honduras to oust current President Manuel Zelaya, a transgender activist was murdered and five other LGBT activists were arrested and abused.

For the second week in a row, a kiss-in occurred on Sunday near Salt Lake City’s LDS temple on Main Street Plaza following the detention of two gay men for public displays of affection on the property. National civil rights group Empowering Spirits Foundation is holding a kiss-in on Wednesday, July 22 outside the LDS church in San Diego, where supporters are asked to wear hearts on their body.

The recent decision by California Episcopal churches to allow gay and lesbian ministers to be ordained was preceded by work from a Chicago group of Episcopalian leaders. The Chicago Consultation put together demonstrations, films and discussions to help the U.S. Episcopal church realize the importance of LGBT members. A group of more conservative churches have decided to split with the Episcopalian church and become the Anglican Church in North America; the world-wide Anglican Church is where the Episcopal Church branches off.