MONTGOMERY, Ala. – In a striking example of legislative mixed-messaging, the Alabama House today passed a bill and a measure that appear to send contradictory signals regarding the state’s attitude toward alternative forms of sexual-orientation.

On the one hand, the House by a 46-41 margin today passed a bill that would expand the state’s hate crimes law to include crimes against people because of their sexual-orientation. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Alvin Holmes (D-Montgomery).

On the other hand, the same body today also passed a measure praising Miss California Carrie Prejean – first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant – for her statements against marriage equality. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Jay Love (R-Montgomery).

Prejean was competing as Miss California when she answered a question from judge Perez Hilton concerning gay marriage during Sunday night’s telvised pageant. She finished second after saying she felt marriage should be between a man and a woman. Perez has since said that that answer cost her the crown and that the Alabama measure “sounds like a spectacular waste of time and funding.” Rep. Love had complimented the Prejean for abiding by her convictions even if it meant losing the pageant.

The state’s current hate crimes law, which was enacted in 1994, currently includes crimes against people for race, color, religion and national origin, but not sexual-orientation. The bill that passed today will now go to the Senate. Rep. Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham), the legislature’s first and only openly gay lawmaker, said she had been a “victim of hate” and understood the importance of the bill.

Whether the Alabama House is even aware that today’s votes send diametrically-opposed messages regarding sexual equality to the electorate remains unclear, and probably unasked.