Josh Shapiro and PA Democrats renew calls for LGBTQ+ protections after murder of transgender teen

Gov. Josh Shapiro and PA lawmakers renew calls for LGBTQ+ protections in the commonwealth’s anti-hate crime law after the murder of Pauly Likens.

Gov. Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania lawmakers responded to the horrific murder of Pauly Likens, a 14-year-old transgender individual, in Mercer County earlier this month, and renewed their calls to update Pennsylvania’s anti-hate crime laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected individuals.

Likens went missing in late June and was found dismembered near the Shenango River Lake in Hermitage. Authorities have charged Dashawn Watkins with first degree murder and other crimes relating to Likens’ death. 

“The First Lady and I are thinking of Pauly Likens’ friends, family and our entire LGBTQ+ community right now. [Pennsylvania State Police’s] investigation is ongoing and her horrific murder must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Gov. Josh Shapiro posted to X on Tuesday.

“It’s past time to strengthen Pennsylvania’s laws to treat hate-based crimes against LGBTQ+ folks the same way other hate crimes are treated. Send the bill to my desk, and I will sign it.”

CNN reported that Mercer County District Attorney Peter C. Acker has not found any evidence of an alleged hate crime, but they are not ruling out the possibility. 

Democrats in the Pennsylvania House passed House Bill 1027 last October, which would amend the commonwealth’s Ethnic Intimidation Statute to extend protections to members of the LGBTQ community. 

The bill has sat dormant in the Pennsylvania controlled Republican Senate since. Senate Republicans have also blocked the Fairness Act, which would grant members of the LGBTQ community protections under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.  

“We mourn the death of Pauly Likens and refuse to stand idly by while LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians are targeted because of who they are. It’s unacceptable that current hate crime laws in our commonwealth are not applied to crimes motivated by a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity,” a statement issued by the PA LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus said on Wednesday. 

“As incidents of violent hate crimes continue to rise across the nation, we urge our colleagues in the state Senate to pass H.B. 1027 and send it to the governor’s desk. It’s far past time to update Pennsylvania’s hate crime statute so that charges may reflect the especially heinous nature of hate-based violence.”