This law is not major, it is just symbolism. The fed is not going to be prosecuting many of these cases, if any. Almost all violent acts is done by the states, and truth be told, there is not many of these anti-gay attacks. 10 years later, Matthew Shepard is still the poster child because these types of acts are so rare.
And Matthew Shepherd was not killed for being gay. This is the “big lie” that is told over and over about his case. The goons who killed him did not target him for attack for being gay. He just makes a convenient symbol for the gay groups to use.