Hate Crimes Begin with Discrimination Governments, churches, and organizations that perpetuate discrimination foster a society prone to violence against minorities. They must assume responsibility for creating an environment that stimulates and promotes such ignorant and brutal violence. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are murdered at an alarming rate in this country just because of who they are. Crimes committed against minorities because they are minorities are hate crimes. These are not isolated acts of violence.
Hate crimes perpetuate a climate of fear amongst targeted groups.
These people were tortured, beaten, stabbed, shot, and mutilated because of who they are. Not every crime is a hate crime. Hate crimes are motivated by bigotry and hatred for an entire class of people. The result is oppression by fear. Hate crimes instill fear in all members of the targeted community, because they know that any one of them could be next.