June, 2001 News (2 Articles with 9,882 total views)
On the cover of the print edition for June, 2001 **NONE
Various articles posted online only in 2001-2002 before EGN resumed in December 2002.
Category for this issueCalendar & Upcoming Events
Calendar of Local GLBT Events |
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Local and Regional News
2001 Pride Erie Picnic Wrap-Up
Between 125, and 150 people attended the 2001 Pride Erie Picnic on Saturday, June 30, 2001 at Presque Isle Beach 11 Pavilion. This was the 9th annual picnic at Presque Isle. They have been held every year since 1992, with the exception of 1993. Most people were from Erie county, but friends from other parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Maryland and even Florida joined us.
Hate Crimes Bill Victory in PA Senate
In a stunning and unexpectedly strong vote of 32 to 15 the Pennsylvania Senate passed fully inclusive hate crimes legislation in an amendment offered by Senator Allen Kukovich (D. Westmoreland County) to HB 1493 at 12:40 am only minutes before the Senate adjourned for their summer recess. After weeks of uncertainty and nearly continuous lobbying and advocacy efforts by a broad coalition of activists led by organizational and individual members of SPARC (the Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition) and PAGALA (the Pennsylvania Gay and Lesbian Alliance for Political Action), the state has seen the passage in one house of the legislature of its first, and truly historic, piece of pro-active legislation protecting the rights of its lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens. The State Senate in the Commonwealth has now passed what is thought to be the most inclusive language of any hate crimes bill in the country. Bill 1493 adds "actual or perceived ancestry, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity" to the existing Ethnic Intimidation Act which, until now, has protected people only on the basis of "race, color, religion, or national origin".
