Hate at home

Anti-gay slayings point to national problem

Ask most people in Ann Arbor where the most reported anti-gay slayings took place in 1999, and most would not guess their own. They would be wrong. In 1999, Michigan led the nation in reported murders of homosexuals. This embarrassing statistic underlies a fundamental problem: Across the country, many Americans still remain violently hostile against homosexuals.

In beginning to remedy the problem of anti-gay hate crimes, police across the country must first recognize when such crimes occur. Unlike other crimes, police may choose to look the other way when classifying a crime as either a hate crime or a typical assault case. Other times, the police may not know that the victim was homosexual, lowering the statistics for assaults and murders against people of certain sexual orientations. Also, victims of assault are often too frightened to report incidents. Thus, the already shocking statistics don't tell the whole story.

In addition to increased police attention to anti-gay hate crimes, the nation needs hate crime legislation dealing specifically with sexual orientation. While people are coming to accept the lifestyles of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered persons, protection under the law will help demonstrate that, as a nation, we don't tolerate hate and violence. Only when federal laws that classify anti-gay assaults on a par with other hate-motivated attacks are on the books, can those who advocate equality for all citizens claim they have made substantial gains.

While hate crime legislation may seem a large step for some, consider how far the nation has come on other tolerance issues. Less than 50 years ago, Americans shuddered at the idea of interracial marriages, while today they are commonly accepted. Just as we are have come to reject racist attitudes toward the institution of marriage, so too should we encourage legislative options which minimize the incidence of hate and intolerance in other areas.

Part of the reason behind such violence is that the government fosters ignorance through legislation which prevents gays from receiving equality, for example by refusing to recognize gay marriages. Same-sex marriages should therefore be legalized to encourage an environment where gays won't be discriminated against in the first place.

Promoting so-called "gay-straight" alliances is another helpful measure. Appearing in high schools and universities throughout the country, these alliances promote tolerance and understanding between gay and straight people. By the time many students arrive at college, many have never known an open homosexual. Those who have had a gay friend or relative may have witnessed first-hand the bitterness against gays, and received many false ideas. Education can alleviate some of the problems caused by misconceptions stemming from bias.

Matthew Shepard's murder last year brought the issue of anti-gay hate crimes to the nation's attention. It would be comforting to believe that such case is an exception, but anti-gay hate crimes are not. For each reported incident, there are many more that the police simply do not report. With education, gay-straight alliances and stronger hate crime legislation, our community and our country should be able to put its prejudices behind it and promote progress in its thinking.