Friends Of Gay Couple Allegedly Attacked Launch Online Petition For New Hate Crimes Law
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - There is no law in Pennsylvania that makes assault based on one's sexual orientation a hate crime, so friends of the gay couple attacked in Center City last week started an online petition, hoping to change that.
"When I got to the hospital and they told me they were mugged because they are gay, it broke my heart," says Caryn Kunkle -- a longtime friend of the couple attacked.
She says she was shocked to learn on Wednesday that gay bashing is not a hate crime in Pennsylvania -- so she started a petition on change.org, hoping to get lawmakers' attention, and received more than 2,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.
"It been really great to hear the response of the entire community," she says. "It's not just gay people who are signing the petition."
In 2002, Pennsylvania lawmakers inserted "sexual orientation" into the hate crimes bill, but the state Supreme Court overturned the law citing a procedural snafu.
With only a few days left in the session, it's unlikely it would get passed this year, but Kunkle says she'll keep pushing so a new bill is introduced next year.
