''We know that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. It wasn't because he was gay. The bill was named for him, the hate-crimes bill was named for him, but it's really a hoax that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills.''

Virginia Foxx, US House Representative from North Carolina, referring to the horrific murder of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old Wyoming college student, 10 years ago. The AP is reporting that Foxx is apologizing for her ''poor choice of words'' based on  but apparently not for standing in the way of expanding hate crimes legislation. The ''Matthew Shepard Act'' was passed on a vote in House despite Foxx and other conservatives who social conservatives who are making the argument that religious organizations won't be free to verbally bash homosexuals. (Associated Press) (Fox News)