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News Release
For Immediate Release: January 7, 2009
Contact: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355

Thought Police on Duty -- Pennsylvania New Hate Crimes Legislation – is Wrong

(Harrisburg) – Even before the Pennsylvania legislative session began, PA State Senator Jim Ferlo (D-38) asked colleagues to pass a hate crimes law with the addition of sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, and mental and physical disability language. In July 2008 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s decision that passage of Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law was done in an unconstitutional manner. Senator Ferlo says passage of a similar law should be their top priority. The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide pro-family organization, disagrees. Yesterday newly elected state legislators were sworn in to serve the people of Pennsylvania. The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) has contacted each State Senator and State Representative and asked them not to support any hate crimes legislation that may be introduced.

“Hate crimes laws are not necessary – there are already laws against murder, assault, harassment, vandalism, arson, etc. Hate crime laws are attempts to silence those who oppose the homosexual and transgender lifestyle – look who’s helping write most of these hate crime laws. Besides why make a list of groups which get special protection under hate crimes legislation. Hate crime laws make some victims more important than others and simply are not right,” noted Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.

We here in Pennsylvania should remember the danger of hate crime laws. In 2002 even with promises from lawmakers on the floor of the House that the law was about hooligans and blood on the streets, the AFA of PA warned that it would result in the loss of religious freedom and that is exactly what happened less than two years after that bill was signed into law. In October 2004 eleven Christians were arrested in Philadelphia for singing choruses and reading Scripture at a ‘gay’ pride event. They were arrested and charged with a hate crime. Each faced 47 years in prison and $90,000 in fines. Only after a judge took the time to view the video of an independent filmmaker, who was making a documentary, were the charges dropped.

Matthew Shepherd, the homosexual student killed in Wyoming, is always paraded before the nation as the reason hate crimes laws are necessary. Investigation showed that he was not targeted because he was homosexual, but his death was the result of a botched robbery. Yet, homosexual activists continue using his murder as a rallying point. The murderers are each serving life sentences because Shepherd’s parents do not believe in the death penalty.

“Lawmakers need to understand the danger of hate crimes legislation. Wyoming is one of many states that do not have hate crimes laws, yet they were able to deal with Matthew Shepherd’s murder as they deal with any murder – investigate, gather facts, seek the culprits, make the arrest and bring the accused to trial. Wyoming doesn’t need a hate crimes law and neither does Pennsylvania. All Americans should have equal protection under the law and we are calling on PA legislators to protect all Pennsylvanians in an equal fashion,” Gramley said.

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