Criminal Justice System

It is stated in the book that gays and lesbians experience a high incidence of violent crime and harassment. One third of gay men and one quarter of lesbians have been victims of at least one violent attack. I knew that a lot of homosexuals get a lot of negative attention but i didn't know it was to the point of a crimes being created associated with them. Heterosexuality is considered a norm in public places and homosexuals are still seen as belonging to the private realm. If homosexual people were to expose their selves in public as being together or compassionate with each other than they are more vulnerable to crime or even provoking it.
A young man Matthew Shepard, in Wyoming was beaten outside a bar by the accused and two other men. He was then tied to a fence in the woods when it was very cold outside and after eighteen hours he was found. Shepard was pronounced died a couple of days after that, some would view this type of violence as a justifiable response to a behavior or life choice they view as immoral. Some view reactions to hate related attacks ultimately denies essential person hood and right to life of the victim. Such crimes have led many social groups to call for hate crime legislation to protect the human rights of groups who remain stigmatized. I don''t think that being gay is wrong or means that a person is not like the rest because we as American are to be free. If that is what makes them happy then what is it hurting. It crazy to see people being bullied or beaten up for going against the norm that we come up with. I see many parents staying together fighting and arguing in front of the child just because they have a child together, but there we have these homosexuals who love like no other and we treat them like crap. At least they are happy and the child is loved. A lot of people feel there child will learn how to be gay and that doesn't always happen the child could still be very straight. I seen as a young child that my mother liked to smoke cigarettes, but i never once thought of doing it or even trying it. All I am saying is that everyone should be treated equal and we should lean America in the wrong direction. I feel our society should be as quick to judge anyone for everyone is different in their own way and if America feels better by pointing out the things that aren't within the norm than maybe America isn't what it's supposed to be.