Bias Crime
If you have suffered a homophobic attack, your attack may be classifed as a hate crime or a bias-related crime. If you have been physically injured, we recommend you seek medical care. You also are encouraged to go to state and local authorities. Union’s Office of Student Services and/or Campus Safety may help you in reporting to the proper people.
What is a Bias-related Crime?
New York State Penal Law Section 485, also known as the 'Hate Crimes Act of 2000', sets forth the definition of a hate or bias-related crime.
Specifically, a person commits a hate or bias-related crime when he or she commits a specified offense and either:
- intentionally selects the person against whom the offense is committed or intended to be committed in whole or in substantial part because of a belief or perception regarding the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability, or sexual orientation of that person, regardless of whether the belief or perception is correct, or
- intentionally commits the act or acts constituting the offense in whole or in substantial part because of a belief or perception regarding the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability, or sexual orientation of a person, regardless of whether the belief or perception is correct.