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. 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.