Sen. Farnese Calls For Provision To Hate Crimes Law Following Attack On Gay Couple In Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Dom Giordano talked to Pennsylvania State Senator Larry Farnese on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT about the attack on a gay couple in Center City two weeks ago.
Pa. Sen. Farnese On Hate Crimes Legislation
In response to the assault, which has resulted in charges being filed against three of the alleged perpetrators, Farnese wants the Pennsylvania to add a provision to its hate crimes law to include sexual orientation.
"It would just add -- like 42 other states around the country, and of course, those surrounding Pennsylvania -- it would add the gender/sexual orientation/gender identity, whether actual or perceived, to Chapter 27, which is actually the hate crimes law," he explained.
Farnese believes the facts of this case demonstrate the need for expanding the law.
"There has been allegations and charges of a hate crime, that this was a motivated attack because these two individuals were gay. That's what I have read in the paper. That's what has been charged and the District Attorney, I believe, has said that his hands are tied right now because Pennsylvania does not have these particular provisions in its legislation, and that's why we're calling for it."
Farnese insisted something must be done to increase the penalty for criminals who target specific classes of victims.
"When you hear allegations that attacks and violence were motivated by slurs -- whether they are racial, or based upon gender, or ancestry, or sexual orientation -- that's a real problem."
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