President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed the federal hate crimes law that adds sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of categories of bias-motivated crimes that can be investigated and prosecuted by the Justice Department.

The law, named in memory of slain college student Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr., a black man who was dragged by a vehicle to his death, is the first major gay rights legislation signed into law by a president.

The hate crimes law was first introduced in the 105th Congress (it is now the 111th Congress). There have been 14 total votes in the House and Senate to bring the legislation to the president's desk, according to a statement from the Human Rights Campaign.

The Bay Area Reporter will have more coverage of the signing and remarks by the president during an East Room reception online Thursday at ebar.com.