President Barack Obama has signed a bill to expand the federal hate crimes law.

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, named after two men who were killed more than 10 years ago because of their sexual orientation, was included in a defense bill that Obama signed on Oct. 28, 2009.

"After more than a decade of opposition and delay, we've passed hate crimes legislation to help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray, or who they are," Obama said.

The law essentially expands the current statute to include any crime instigated by a person's gender, sexual orientation or disability.

The signing was hailed by gay rights groups.

"Today's signing of the first major piece of civil rights legislation to protect LGBT Americans represents a historic milestone in the inevitable march towards equality," said Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese.

We rate this a Promise Kept.