Michigan woman is attacked shortly after her same - sex marriage was seen on local TV . `` If the motivation for the crime was a person 's sexual orientation , it just does n't fall within the ethnic intimidation statute , '' he said . Michigan is one of 19 states that do not specifically protect the community in hate crime statute . 2009 federal Hate Crimes Prevention Act has not been extended to individual states . Former state legislator : ` ` There are still glaring gaps in the laws that generally protect people ''
Michigan woman is attacked shortly after her same - sex marriage was seen on local TV . Michigan is one of 19 states that do not specifically protect the community in hate crime statute . 2009 federal Hate Crimes Prevention Act has not been extended to individual states . Former state legislator : ` ` There are still glaring gaps in the laws that generally protect people ''