Credit: Photo By Jana Birchum

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Denise Guerrero of Austin cries during 1999 Senate testimony on the hate crimes bill. Guerrero’s brother, Ernest Saldaña (shown in framed picture), was murdered on their mother’s birthday, Nov. 3, 1994. Saldaña’s assailants yelled, “faggot, faggot,” as they beat him to death. Sen. Rodney Ellis, sponsor of the Senate bill, sits next to Guerrero.

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