A hate crimes bill lauded by Attorney General Janet Reno and written by Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy (Dem.) has failed to spark interest in the Republican-dominated Congress of the United States.

Wade Henderson, executive director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights said recently that "It's been an absolutely horrendous year."

Tougher penalties for crimes of prejudice remain highly controversial. Kennedy bill supporters believe that Matthew Shepard's murder may have –by turning hate issues into gay hate issues—doomed the proposed legislation.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), a strong backer of the federal hate crimes bill showed surprise and disappointment that Shepard's murder has not created enough momentum to galvanize action in the Congress.

He told reporters: "I've been around legislatures for a long time, and an event like that can galvanize public support and political thinking… But unfortunately in this case, we were unable to use this tragic event to prevent others from happening in the future."

A spokesman for the Christian Coalition promised to rally opposition to such a hate crimes bill next year too.

"There are quite frankly differing world views that vie at the center of not just this debate but the wider debate on gay rights….One side seeks to preserve traditional morality, and the other side, with a modified view of morality, is attempting to assert a civil right."