By Bob Katzen

Sen. Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont) has filed legislation that would add sex to the list of categories in the hate crime statute which currently includes race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability.

Brownsberger said his legislation will make additional penalties available when men who are biased against women use violence against women to intimidate them. “The horrible shootings in Georgia of Asian women appear to have been motivated by both anti-Asian bias and by misogyny,” said Brownsberger. “This crime made clear to everyone that some crimes against women are driven by hatred of women and we need to attach special penalties to that kind of crime.”