Hate Crimes Overturned In Pennsylvania

A lawsuit by Christian activist group Repent America has successfully overturned the portion of Pennsylvania's hate crimes law that covers sexual orientation and physical disability. Yesterday a state court voted 5-1 to overturn a 2002 expansion of the law, ruling that the amendment was created unconstitutionally because it was inserted into another bill covering agricultural vandalism.

An as yet unapproved federal hate crimes act covering LGBT people is similarly inserted into a defense authorization bill. Maybe it's time to start demanding that these bills be stand-alone only. Not only does a "clean" win make these sort of reversals more difficult to obtain, it makes who voted for what bill and why, much more evident.

(Via - Pam's House Blend.)
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