The thought is right, but there is the obvious answer to this issue (hate crimes laws) and marriage equality.

As Don Slater and ONE Magazine said years ago, we don’t even want hate crime laws, all crimes are hate.

BUT if you are going to have such laws for some citizens, then you must have them for homosexuals. AND thus, we should not have special rights for people just because they are married, but if you are going to give special rights, then homosexuals should have them too.

I have been a one many army fighting for gay, human, civil and equal rights for 40 years. Earlier this month, thousands and thousands of gay people, along with many straights marched on Washington... it was my intent to be there, because I always regretted not going in 1979.Because of a broken down bus, along with 51 others... we wanted to support Equal Rights for gays in America, we never made it... but thankful for all those who did go, and made their voices heard. What I noticed most of all, was the vast majority of the marchers were very young. It reminded me when President Kennedy stated in his inaugural speech, that the torch was being passed to a new generation of Americans... I thought then that he was talking about me... I was 23 at the time. A get the feeling that the torch is once again being passed... and I see similarities when JFK came into office and now. JFK was the first Catholic elected President ... and I was told that would not happen in my lifetime. It came after 8 years of Eisenhower. Now, we have the first elected Black President, again something I was told would not happen in my lifetime, except now I am 72! I have seen much progress made in gay rights, but its been slow coming. I believe this generation of fair minded Americans will bring Equal Rights to gays... but they won’t have to wait years, like my generation. Change is good, especially if you helped make it happen. I have done my share in many ways, and do not intend to step aside for this new generation... I will be there to help and continue to speak OUT, and remind those not to settle for 2nd class citizenship... and help others at the same time. The results can, and willmake America stronger and respected here and around the world.