Specifically, bias-related crimes are intended to intimidate an entire group of people, not just the victim, said Frederick M. Lawrence, a professor of law at Boston University. But critics maintain singling out hate crimes sets up a special class of victims and downplays the suffering of others. For example, they argue, the victim of a mugging suffers the same trauma whether the motivation is money or racism. Ala. And in 1990, Congress passed the Hate Crime Statistics Act that requires the FBI to track hate crimes. The laws generally boost penalties for offenses labeled as hate crimes and give victims another legal tool to go after perpetrators.
Groups protected by hate-crime laws, however, differ from state to state.
Sexual orientation is protected in only 21 states. New York is one of the states without a hate-crime law. Binghamton University administrators just received the students' demand for a hate-crime policy last week and have not had time to study it, said Katharine F. Ellis, director of media relations. She had no further comment. The Asian Student Union representatives and administrators are due to meet again today.