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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 19, 2014 12:47 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Anthony H. Williams |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Hate Crime Legislative Fix |
| On September 11, 2014 in Center City Philadelphia, a group of fifteen young adults viciously attacked a gay couple sending them to the hospital with serious injuries. Prior to the physical attack, the couple was ridiculed with homophobic insults. Not only was this couple assaulted, but the group also robbed them of their personal belongings. Because of video surveillance and community support, many of the accused have surrendered to the authorities. However, the penalty these attackers face cannot be increased due to the limitations of our current law. According to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Pennsylvania is one of only fifteen states that exclude sexual orientation and gender identity from its hate law. In 2008, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court removed sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and ancestry from the crime of ethnic intimidation because it conflicted with the original statutory intent. In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to expand the Pennsylvania Crimes Code to include a hate crime law that will increase the penalty for crimes motivated by bias and prejudice. If crimes are committed because of a victim’s real or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, then a hate crime has been committed. If you have any questions regarding this legislation, please contact Joanna McClinton in my office. |