Last week, a gay couple was walking to get dinner when they were viciously attacked after acknowledging that they were a couple to a passing group. They were kicked, punched, held down, robbed and had antigay epithets hurled at them. One man’s face was fractured so badly, he will have his jaw wired shut for the next two months.
Calls for hate-crimes charges were immediate. But, the suspects cannot be charged with a hate crime, as Pennsylvania’s law does not extend to crimes committed based on victims’ sexual orientation and gender identity.
As much as the incident reflects the dire need for such a measure, it also highlights that the vast majority of people are unaware that the state lacks such protections for its LGBT citizens. Sources from media to outraged members of the public called for swift hate-crimes charges. But, as the law stands now, that the aggressors seemed to be prompted to violence largely because of the victims’ sexual orientation won’t come into play in the charges.
Where this has been pointed out in public forums, the response seems to be disbelief, and some confusion. There is a wealth of statistical evidence that demonstrates that LGBT people are victims of violent crimes at higher rates than other populations — and empirical evidence like last week’s gay-bashing to support those numbers. Acknowledging these facts through the law seems like a no-brainer — and one that should not be prejudiced by party politics — but legislation to make changes to the law has been stalled in the state legislature for years.
Getting an LGBT hate-crimes law into place can’t take back the blows dealt to the couple last week. And it can’t lessen the homophobia and ignorance that seemingly abounded in the group of attackers. But, what it can do is show future groups that violence against LGBT people — solely because they are LGBT people — is not tolerated by our state. Because as the law is written right now, it is.
Now is the time to maximize on the surprise that’s abounding about the gaps in the law to make positive change.
Justice for these men will be sought in a courtroom, and while their attackers likely won’t face hate-crimes charges, their ordeal can be used to ensure future criminals do — and to work to break down the barriers of sanctioned LGBT discrimination.