Brady Bill Expands Hate-Crime Coverage To LGBT

Congressman Bob Brady has introduced legislation to amend Title 18 of the US Code to expand federal hate-crimes protections for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Under this new legislation, any hate crime committed based on sexual orientation or gender identity would be prosecutable under federal law, even if the crime did not involve interstate commerce.

Nationally, in 2011, the FBI reported 1,553 crimes based on a person’s actual or perceived LGBT status and the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs documented 25 homicides motivated by an anti-LGBT bias.

And, the Congressman has also called on state lawmakers to make changes in the State’s hate crime law, so that prosecutors have the mechanisms necessary to obtain harsh convictions for violent crimes against members of the LGBT community.

“The recent gay-bashing in downtown Philadelphia, in what I consider to be a hate crime, has no place in our fine city of brotherly love, and we need to do all we can both on federal and state level to protect this community from vicious hate violence,” Brady said.

“Presently Pennsylvania is one of 15 states that does not include sexual orientation to the standards protected under its hate-crime law,” Brady said. “In 2008, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and ancestry were removed from the protection of Pennsylvania’s hate-crime law. Since then, high-profile crimes against specific groups across the state could not be prosecuted under the state’s hate-crime law. If they had been, those convicted could have received far more severe sentences.”

Brady said that during his 15 years in Congress he has proudly witnessed how our city has grown to respect and promote diversity. “The LGBT community in our city has worked hard and been very lucky to have some great political leaders to ensure their acceptance and a place at the table. We have come too far to go back to an era of hatred and exclusion,” Brady said.

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