Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 26, 2021 01:13 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Mike Zabel |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Repealing “Homosexuality” in the Obscenity Statute |
| Did you know that one of our current state laws still prohibits the distribution to minors of materials such as books, pictures, and videos which depict “acts of homosexuality,” classifying homosexuality as obscene? Recently, one of the municipalities I represent, Upper Darby Township, repealed a similar decades old ordinance and, upon further review, it was discovered that Pennsylvania has such a statue still on the books. Under existing law, “acts of homosexuality” are classified as “obscene” in Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses), Section 5903 (Obscene and Other Sexual Materials and Performances). My legislation would rectify this injustice by amending this section to remove the term “homosexuality” from the state obscenity clause. The fact that bigoted, offensive language is still listed in our state’s law is unacceptable. Please join me in bringing Pennsylvania into the 21st century by supporting this commonsense measure that will help promote equality and inclusion within Pennsylvania. |
Introduced as HB1279