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ANTI-DISCRIMINATION

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TRANSGENDER ISSUES

RESPONSIBLE SEX EDUCATION

YOUTH - SNAP

ANTI-VIOLENCE

Why do we need Hate Crimes Legislation?

From 2006 to 2007 hate violence in the state of Pennsylvania increased by 28 percent.

The rise in violence inflicted on those under the age of eighteen has more than doubled. Both the state and federal government have consistently failed to uphold their responsibility to put an end to the surge in violence and ensure that all citizens receive the protection they need.

According to the FBI, current attacks on LGBT individuals are underreported by at least 33%.

• There has been a 100% increase in violence against youth under 18 years of age
• There was an 11% increase in victims of hate based on sexual orientation in 2008.
• Reported Hate Crimes have increased for three consecutive years.
• In 2008, Equality Advocates received 54 calls reporting hate crimes relating to sexual orientation or gender identity in the Philadelphia area alone

Hate crimes legislation would encourage victims of hate violence to report incidences of hate-based violence.

How are Pennsylvanians being failed by their government?

Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia have laws that protect their citizens from hate crimes based on either gender identity or sexual orientation. Pennsylvania has no law protecting its citizens.

These include Pennsylvania’s neighbors: Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and New York. Yet, the state of Pennsylvania has no law that protects individuals from hate crimes based on either gender identity or sexual orientation.

Who supports hate crimes Legislation?

From 2002 to 2008 the state protected all of its citizens from hate crimes including those based upon perceived gender identity.

Even though the Republican-controlled State Legislature supported hate crimes legislation, it was struck down by the State Supreme Court in 2008 due to a procedural technicality.

• Pennsylvania state government protected individuals from hate crimes from 2002 to 2008
• Since the law was struck down in 2008 because of a technicality, legislators have done nothing to fix it

The Federal Government supports hate crimes legislation.

The 111th Congress, including thirteen Pennsylvania Representatives, passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act which expands federal hate crime law to include gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. This bill was signed into law by President Barak Obama..

A diverse range of organizations support the passage of an LGBT-inclusive hate crimes bill in Pennsylvania including:

The Anti-Defamation League, The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the Service Employees International Union State Council (SEIU PA), The Interfaith Alliance of Pennsylvania, the Jewish Social Policy Action Network (JSPAN), the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, the Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network (UUPLAN), the Philadelphia Coalition of Labor Union Women, Pennsylvania NOW, and many more.

Most importantly 73% of the American people support hate crimes legislation.

They support strengthening laws to give local law police and sheriff's departments the tools and resources they need to prevent and prosecute these heinous acts.

What can be done?

Pennsylvanians can contact their state representatives and senators and ask them to support LGBT-inclusive Hate Crimes legislations. Visit www.equalitypa.org for more ways to get involved!

• Victims of hate crimes are not limited to those directly assaulted. Hate violence is a societal scourge which terrorizes communities and instills fear in decent, hard-working Pennsylvanians.