Expert:
Tobias Barrington Wolff
Professor of Law
University of Pennsylvania

Credentials:
• Researches and teaches constitutional law, conflict of laws, sexuality and law

Quotes:
“It is the first time in the United States that a conviction has been secured under a hate crimes law for the murder of a transgender person. Angie Zapata was targeted and brutally killed because of her identity as a transwoman. In arriving at their verdict, the jury rejected the argument that this kind of murder could somehow be less blameworthy because of the criminal's ‘panic’ over the identity of the victim. Instead, the jury's verdict represents a judgment that hate crimes like these harm not just victims and their families but whole communities.”

“This case illustrates the need for hate crime protection at the federal level. Many states do not recognize the bias-motivated murder of a gay or transgender person as a hate crime, and many more do not have the resources to prosecute these difficult crimes properly. Congress will have the chance this session to vote on hate crimes legislation and President Obama has pledged to sign those protections into law. The need for such reform is clear.”

Merging of Black Colleges in Mississippi?

40th Anniversary of “Sesame Street”

2010 U.S. Census

Philadelphia Transit Strike

Catholic Diocese of Wilmington Bankruptcy

Youth Violence: Chicago and Nationwide

Same-Sex Marriage in Washington, D.C.

Parenting

60th Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China

Medical Malpractice Suits and Medical Costs

» Source Sheet Archives

For general media inquiries, call 215-898-8721.

For specific inquiries, please refer to our detailed listing of news officers.

Office of University Communications, 200 Sansom Place East, 3600 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6106.

For the central Penn switchboard call 215-898-5000