On Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:16:17 -0700, "Roger Traviss"
wrote:

If I am mugged it is a crime. If a homosexual is mugged it is a hate
crime.

Er, and what if someone is "mugged" simply because one is "perceived
to be Queer".

No, in both cases, no matter what the reason for the assault, it's still an
"assault" and should NOT be tagged one way or the other.

Yes, assaulting someone because of their perceived sexuality is wrong but so
is assaulting somebody because they are wearing the "wrong" hockey club
sweater, or look different, or are the "wrong" religion or the "wrong ethnic
group or the wrong whatever. One assault is no more serious than the other.
It's still an assault and any assault, no matter the motivation, should be
punished equally.

Er, unfortunately, your "hetero-view" of the world doesn't quite work
out so nicely and neatly.

Anyone "of colour" will confirm the reality of life. And no, no,
don't say we're all (Gays/Blacks/others) whingeing.

It happens day in, day out.

A study released in Metro Vancouver just today (Fri 26
Aug) shows Gay couples and single parents are discriminated against
"simply because..." in the rental housing field.