The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that a homosexual "hate crimes" law used against Christian evangelists violates the state constitution.

In 2004, Christian evangelist Michael Marcavage and several other Christians were arrested at Philadelphia's annual gay "coming out" parade.

Their message -- "Homosexuality is sin - Christ can set you free."

They were charged under the state's "ethnic intimidation" law for preaching the Gospel to homosexuals.

But now, the court has ruled that the legislature violated the Pennsylvania constitution by adding "sexual orientation" to the ethnic intimidation law.

When the case began four years ago, we spoke with Marcavage about the charges he was facing.

"Well it was absolutely astonishing I had no idea that I would be one of the first victims in our nation to be charged under hate crimes legislation which I see as the criminalization of Christianity," said Marcavage, director of Repent America.

"When you look at the target audience of these hate laws, it is the Christians they want to silence our message."

Marcavage said, "having been arrested, jailed and charged with a 'hate crime' for preaching the Gospel, I am elated with the court's decision to strike down" that law.