PA House To Vote To Remove Term ‘Homosexuality’ From Crimes Code

HARRISBURG — State lawmakers on Tuesday are poised to vote on second consideration on a invoice that might take away the time period “homosexuality” from sure references throughout the Pennsylvania Crimes Code.

The measure, which had been launched by Montgomery County Republican State Rep. Todd Stephens, was first launched late final year.

In a co-sponsorship memo in November 2021, Stephens stated he deliberate to introduce the laws that might take away references to the time period “homosexuality” inside definitions of prohibited sexual acts inside state legislation.

“The usage of this term in the definitions of ‘sexual activity’ and ‘sexual conduct’ in Sections 5902 (relating to prostitution) and 5903 (relating to child pornography), respectively, serves no purpose as homosexual acts, in and of themselves, do not constitute a criminal offense,” wrote Stephens, who labored as a prosecutor earlier than turning into an elected consultant.

Stephens wrote that along with eradicating references to “homosexuality,” the laws would additional amend the definitions of “sexual activity” and “sexual conduct” by eradicating surplus language and incorporating references to different sexual acts outlined elsewhere within the Crimes Code, “thereby removing certain ambiguities in the current statute,” in response to the co-sponsorship memo.

Legislative information present that the measure was voted on first consideration again in March and that now lawmakers are anticipated to vote on the proposal on second consideration throughout a session in Harrisburg Tuesday.

The measure would amend Title 18, (Crimes and Offenses), within the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.

The bipartisan measure had gotten the assist of 13 cosponsors after it was launched by Stephens.