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Pennsylvania closer to passing LGBT hate crime law
The Daily PennsylvanianPennsylvania closer to passing LGBT hate crime law
By Emily Offat
Oct 8, 2014
After a brutal attack on a gay couple on Sept. 11, Pennsylvania is one step closer to having a hate crime law that would protect gay and lesbian people.
On Monday, the House Judiciary Committee approved a bill, sponsored by state Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Philadelphia) , that would expand Pennsylvania’s hate crime law to cover sexual orientation, gender identity and mental and physical disabilities. The committee approved the legislation by a 19 to 4 vote.
Momentum for the change has been building after a gay couple was assaulted in Center City near RIttenhouse Square. The attackers allegedly used several anti-gay slurs as an exchange became increasingly violent — resulting in the hospitalization of the both men, with one of them having his jaw wired shut.
“The people that I’ve talked to about this are outraged that it happened,” said Bob Schoenberg, the director of Penn’s LGBT Center. “People are upset that, as it appears, these men were attacked for no other reason than acknowledging that they were a couple.” .... MORE at http://www.thedp.com/article/2014/10/hate-crime-law-and-reaction