Signing of the Defense Authorization Act (6 images)

President Barack Obama (L) delivers remarks alongside Defense Secretary Robert Gates, before signing the National Defense Authorization Act for 2010 in the East Room of the White House in Washington on October 28, 2009. The bill included the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act which expands upon 1969 U.S. federal hate-crime law by extending its scope to protect crimes motivated by a victim's gender, sexual orientation or gender identity. UPI/Kevin Dietsch

A White House staffer organizes pens before President Barack Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act for 2010 in the East Room of the White House in Washington on October 28, 2009. The bill included the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act which expands upon 1969 U.S. federal hate-crime law by extending its scope to protect crimes motivated by a victim's gender, sexual orientation or gender identity. UPI/Kevin Dietsch

President Barack Obama signs the National Defense Authorization Act for 2010 in the East Room of the White House in Washington on October 28, 2009. The bill included the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act which expands upon 1969 U.S. federal hate-crime law by extending its scope to protect crimes motivated by a victim's gender, sexual orientation or gender identity. UPI/Kevin Dietsch

President Barack Obama signs the National Defense Authorization Act for 2010 in the East Room of the White House in Washington on October 28, 2009. The bill included the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act which expands upon 1969 U.S. federal hate-crime law by extending its scope to protect crimes motivated by a victim's gender, sexual orientation or gender identity. UPI/Kevin Dietsch