Gay GOP group praises Schwarzenegger

A gay Republican group Thursday praised California's Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for signing a hate crimes act.

"Gov. Schwarzenegger once again showed that he is not only a Governor for all Californians, but a man of his word," said Patrick Guerriero, executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans. "Gov. Schwarzenegger campaigned as the people's governor, and he has been true to his word."

The state's Omnibus Hate Crimes Act of 2004 creates a uniform definition of a hate crime that includes crimes against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, the organization said.

The bill also broadens the definition of a hate crime to include crimes against individuals based on their association with people who are gay or transgendered.

The Log Cabin Republicans said the legislation had bipartisan support in the California Legislature.

The Log Cabin Republicans "is the nation's largest organization of Republicans who support fairness, freedom and equality for gay and lesbian Americans," the group said.

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