On September 11, 2014, a young gay couple was viciously attacked by a group of young men and women in the Center City section of Philadelphia. Someone in the group asked if the men were "boyfriends," according to police, and made "disparaging remarks" about gay people before attacking the victims, kicking them in the head, chest, and face. One of the men had to undergo surgery and have his jaw wired shut; the other suffered bone fractures and cuts to his face.

Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law protected individuals based on their actual or perceived ancestry, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity until the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that Act 143 of 2002 was unconstitutional on July 23, 2008, and this language was removed from the Crimes Code.

Many believe, and we agree, that the recent horrible attack that took place in Philadelphia was a hate crime. Unfortunately, while Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams shares that opinion, our current state law does not give him the opportunity to charge the attackers with a hate crime. Please join us in co-sponsoring this much needed legislation so we can once again change Pennsylvania’s hate crime law.