Today (January 1999), 40 states — not including Wyoming — now have some form of hate crimes law.
Some states, including Texas, aren't explicit about which groups are covered by their hate-crimes statutes.
Of those that do specify, 20 states mention race, religion or ethnicity, 11 mention sexual orientation, 11 mention gender and 12 mention other categories, like mental or physical disability.
Some states have penalties that vary with the severity of the crime — in Wisconsin, for instance, a fine might be added to the penalty for a misdemeanor, while five years could be added to a felony sentence.
Critics say hate-crimes laws encourage groups to vie for protected status by emphasizing the degree of their victimization. Interestingly, Bill Dobbs, spokesman for a homosexual rights advocacy group, opposes hate-crimes legislation encompassing sexual orientation because it encourages resentment.