(a) No person shall commit an offense under Title 18, Chapter 25 (relating to criminal homicide), Chapter 27 (relating to assault), Chapter 29 (relating to kidnapping), Chapter 31 (relating to sexual offenses), Chapter 33 (relating to arson, criminal mischief and other property destruction), or Section 3503 (relating to criminal trespass) of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, against an individual or group of individuals or the property of an individual or group, accompanied by malicious intent as defined in subsection (b) hereof.
(b) "Malicious intent", for the purposes addressed in this section, means the intent to commit any act, the commission of which is a necessary element of any offense referred to in subsection (a) above, motivated by hatred towards the actual or perceived disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, of another individual or group of individuals.
(c) As used in this section:
(1) "Disability" means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of his or her major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment.
(2) "Sexual orientation" means male or female homosexuality, heterosexuality and bisexuality, by preference, practice or as perceived by others.
(3) "Gender identity or expression" means a self-perception, or perception by others, as male or female, and shall include an individual's appearance, behavior, or physical characteristics, that may be in accord with, or opposed to, one's physical anatomy, chromosomal sex, or sex assigned at birth; and shall include, but not be limited to, individuals who are undergoing or have completed sex reassignment.
(Ord. 5233. Passed 6-14-17.)