Here is your vocabulary lesson for the day:
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, the word "immutable" means not capable of or susceptible to change.
Now we see the word "immutable" in use in this CBS News story:
Last week, House Republican Leader John Boehner objected to House passage of a bill that would expand hate crime laws and make it a federal crime to assault people on the basis of their sexual orientation.
"All violent crimes should be prosecuted vigorously, no matter what the circumstance," he said. "The Democrats' 'thought crimes' legislation, however, places a higher value on some lives than others. Republicans believe that all lives are created equal, and should be defended with equal vigilance."
CBS News contacted Boehner's office for clarification and this is the response they received:
....In an email, Boehner spokesman Kevin Smith said Boehner "supports existing federal protections (based on race, religion, gender, etc) based on immutable characteristics."
Apparently, Boehner does not want to add sexual orientation to the list.
Shame on Boehner. Boehner and his ilk would rather protect banking institutions and his rich, pompous, lobbyist friends than real, caring human beings.
Just because Boehner is against it, doesn't mean that sexual orientation should be excluded from hate crime legislation. Boehner's beliefs do not represent middle America. Boehner is more aligned with the extreme right. His views are irrelevant.
In conclusion, ignore Boehner and add sexual orientation to the hate crimes legislation.