Homosexuals cheered as 11 members of Repent America were hauled off to prison.  They were charged with committing acts motivated by hatred toward one’s sexual orientation.  The charges were challenged and the Commonwealth Court ruled the ‘hate crimes’ law went on the books inappropriately.  Attorney Aaron Martin says the purpose of a bill cannot be changed as it goes through the legislature.

“The bill started as one which criminalized agricultural crop destruction and made no mention of hate crimes, or ethnic intimidation or sexual orientation.”

Hate crimes came about thanks to an amendment. Randy Wenger with the Independence Law Center calls it a setback for the gay lobby that pushed hard for a hate crimes law.

“The laws being promoted by homosexual activists have more to do with trying to legitimize behavior than they have to do with fixing any problem that’s out there.”

He expects gay activists to try again.

“We’re working to try to prevent that from passing the legislature. We don’t want another hate crimes law.  We’re glad that it was overturned and we don’t want them to go back and do it again.”

Lawmakers turned Pennsylvania’s crop destruction law into a hate crimes law back in 2002.