Byrd was killed in 1998 in Jasper by being dragged behind a pickup truck. Byrd was African-American. Three white men were in the truck. Two of the men are on death row and the other was sentenced to life in prison. The James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Bill enhances penalties for crimes committed against people because of their race, religion, color, disability, gender, age, national ancestry or sexual orientation.
Opponents say the law singles out groups for special protections.
Haywood's decision came one day after an emotional exchange on the Senate floor between supporters and opponents of the bill after it was learned a swastika had been spray-painted on a Dallas black church. Haywood said it was that exchange plus lobbying by a gay Fort Worth man, targeted with death threats over the city's nondiscrimination ordinance, that helped him make his decision. The Texas House has already approved the Byrd Hate Crimes Bill, but Senate sponsor Rodney Ellis had been one vote short of having the two-thirds margin needed to bring the legislation up for debate in the Senate. In a chamber divided 16-15 between Republicans and Democrats, Ellis needed the votes of five Republicans to bring the legislation to the floor. He had the support of four GOP senators, but Haywood gave him the final vote he needed.