The entire night of crime had classism permeating and feeding the racism and homophobia. Class is a perennial problem in the national LGBT groups that are leading this campaign. Skepticism about hate crimes law is politically inconvenient. Many of the voices against these laws have a vested interest in homophobic hate. Fear of queer is the cash cow of the religious Reich.
Fundamentalist pundits sound off on legal concerns, related to equality and freedom of speech.
They are particularly angry that some statutes mandate teaching tolerance. By our actions, by our lives, by our language, we must be teaching tolerance, and celebration, of all members of the community. Hate crimes legislation, as currently perceived, is too much, too little, too late.