Gay Hate Crimes, What do you think? Options

[rOckThISshYt]

There are hate crimes all over the time. Some of them happen to be on homosexual/bisexual people. Some of them are even murders. I have an example of one for a gay male and one for a gay female. I just wanted to hear your opinions on the reports and hate crimes of all kinds and anything else you have to add.

New Details Emerge in Matthew Shepard Murder
Killers Talk About Crime That Shocked the Nation
Dec. 1, 2004 - Six years ago, on a cold October night on the outskirts of Laramie, Wyo., 21-year-old gay college student Matthew Shepard was brutally beaten, tied to a fence and left for dead. He was found 18 hours later and rushed to the hospital, where he lingered on the edge of death for nearly five days before succumbing to his injuries.

The story garnered national attention when the attack was characterized as a hate crime. But Shepard's killers, in their first interview since their convictions, tell "20/20's" Elizabeth Vargas that money and drugs motivated their actions that night, not hatred of gays.

While Shepard lay unconscious in a hospital, the national press quickly arrived in Laramie. Cal Rerucha, who prosecuted the case, told Vargas the media descended on Laramie "like locusts."

"We knew in the newsroom the day it happened, this is going to be a huge story, this is going to attract international interest," said Jason Marsden of "The Casper Star-Tribune."

"I remember one of my fellow reporters saying, 'this kid is going to be the new poster child for gay rights," he added. News of Shepard's death sparked reaction overseas and demonstrations across America.

"I think a lot of gay people, when they first heard of that horrifying event, felt sort of punched in the stomach. I mean it kind of encapsulated all our fears of being victimized," said writer Andrew Sullivan, a prominent gay rights advocate.

But as the push for gay rights found new force, so did a corresponding backlash from anti-gay opponents who came from out of state to grab a piece of the media spotlight.

Tensions were so high that Shepard's father wore a bulletproof vest under his suit when he spoke at his son's funeral service.

"The saddest part of this whole case was at Matthew's funeral, when they, these people, refused to let Matthew be buried with dignity," said Rerucha. "I never saw people that could hate so much."


Killers Both Receive Two Consecutive Life Sentences
Local residents Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, both 21 at the time, were charged with Shepard's murder. Henderson's case came before the court first. To avoid the possibility of receiving the death penalty, he pleaded guilty to murder and kidnapping and received two consecutive life terms in prison.
McKinney's case went to trial a year after Shepard's death. He was convicted of felony murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping. Before the jury was about to decide his sentence, he, too, reached a deal that allowed him to avoid a possible death penalty. Both men are serving double life sentences in prison.

Authorities asked "20/20" not to disclose the prison location.

Man Admits Killing Gay Teen, Gets 20 Years

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A man who admitted fatally stabbing a 15-year-old lesbian during a confrontation on a downtown street was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison.

Richard McCullough had faced up to 30 years after pleading guilty last month to aggravated manslaughter, aggravated assault and bias intimidation.

McCullough, 30, had been charged with bias murder in the May 2003 killing of Sakia Gunn, but that charge was dropped as part of a plea bargain.

Gunn and four other girls were waiting for a bus in downtown Newark when McCullough and another man drove up and asked them if they wanted to go to a party. Officials said the girls responded that they were lesbians and were not interested.

The men began spewing homophobic insults and a fight began, authorities said. Gunn was stabbed as she came to the defense of a friend.