As legislation to expand hate crimes protection to include "gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability" winds its way through Congress, fear-mongering on the right is continuing apace. CBN News reports that at this week's Southern Baptist Convention, Chuck Colson is warning pastors that such a law could put them at risk of prosecution for preaching that homosexuality is sinful.

Simply. False.

As we've stated before, the hate crimes expansion deals with acts of violence, not sermons, and it explicitly protects religious liberty and free speech (as does, not insignificantly, the Constitution). The specious speculation to the contrary -- at the annual conference of America's largest Protestant denomination, no less -- presents an obstacle to needed protection, and it nurtures division. Thankfully, numerous denominations and faith leaders -- from a range of faith traditions and with different perspectives on LGBT rights -- support extending hate crimes protection and are speaking out for the cause. Hopefully their voices ring loudest when the Senate votes on hate crimes.