Last year, the state House of Representatives sent a sobering message about its commitment to protecting all Pennsylvania citizens from harassment -- it defeated 117-81 a bill that would have helped protect gay men and lesbians from violent crime.

But now the representatives have a chance to make amends. House Bill 1353, the Bias Related Offenses Bill, is once again before the House, and must be passed.

The bill would amend the Pennsylvania Hate Crimes law to include sexual orientation. The law currently elevates the offense for crimes based on race, religion, color and national origin.

And such legislation is obviously necessary. According to a 1988 study by the Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force, 61 percent of gay men and 39 percent of lesbians were targets of violence at least once in their lives because of their sexual orientation.

These percentages are even more alarming when one considers that the study's sample -- which consisted mainly of white, highly educated respondents -- are the least likely to be victimized, according to federal statistics.

The task force concluded that "failure to include sexual orientation as a protected category in bias crime legislation" was one of the factors contributing to such victimization.

In addition, the recent Committee on Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Equity confirmed that the University campus is an intolerant place for gay people.

House Bill 1353 is not a speech code, but simply guarantees gay men and lesbians the right not to be attacked.

A vote against House Bill 1353 is a vote for violence against gay men and lesbians. If the House does not pass it, it will send a message that such violence is acceptable.