(Santa Fe, New Mexico) New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has signed two pieces of legislation that will have a profound effect on the lives of the state's LGBT community.

The first adds sexual orientation and gender identity to the New Mexico Hate Crimes law. The second broadens the state's Human Rights Act to cover sexual orientation and gender identity.

Both laws take effect July 1.

The hate crimes law allows a judge to give extra prison time to an offender whose crimes are determined by a court to have been motivated by hate.

A first-time offender could get a year, and a repeat offender an extra two years, added to his or her prison sentence.

The law already includes a victim's actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, or gender.

The amendment to the law was passed by the legislature last month.

The anti-discrimination law makes it illegal to discriminate against gays and lesbians in matters of employment, housing, credit, public accommodations and union membership.

Businesses with fewer than 15 workers are exempt from the employment discrimination provision.