We have these two Houston lawmakers to thank for the James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act. With Thompson in the House and Ellis in the Senate, this seasoned political duo led the charge to put the law on the books once and for all. They weren't alone. They had a coalition of folks fighting with them outside the chambers - the NAACP, Texas Freedom Network, the Lesbian Gay Rights Political Lobby, Anti-Defamation League - clearly too many to name here. The two legislators proved how even the most emotional battles can be fought with clarity of vision. They stayed the course and closed the deal. In the end, when Gov. Rick Perry signed the bill, Thompson let herself cry.
