Additionally, eight students from Anoka High School were suspended from school for taunting and teasing a student who was dating an African- American. The principal of the school took the initiative to stop the hate by suspending the students even though the actions were primarily committed off Anoka High School grounds. They failed to teach these young men how to live in the real world. Blame, however, cannot be entirely placed on school administration and teachers. In addition to teaching academic courses, schools are also a place for students to learn how to live and interact with each other.
Students have a responsibility to their peers to stop hate.
Besides promoting a policy of speaking up against hateful speech, federal legislation against such hate crimes would also help deter gay bashing. Unless society wants to see more acts of hatred towards other human beings like Matthew Shepard, changes need to be made. In 80 percent of these hatred cases, the incident is either ignored or very little punishment is given to the offenders. What homosexuals need are a few good heterosexuals. The only way to truly battle these hate crimes is to not let them happen in the first place.