Though I can only speak from an outsider's POV on this important issue, I strongly feel that folks with gay lifestyles should not have to remain 'in the closet' out of fear for personal safety ... nor, should they have to be armed in order to better deal with such harassment. There have got to be other, more effective ways to address this ongoing social ill. I agree with these concerned parents on YouTube ~ our nation's leaders cannot afford to continue to inadequately address such ongoing hate crimes as gay-murders ... & I, too, as a voter would like to hear more about what the candidates have to say on the subject.

Also, my sincere condolescences to these courageous parents & the victim's other family members & friends.

Thank you,

Kelli

Yes, we need the government to protect our lesbian, gay's right. Girls on http://femmate.com feel happy to be live with the same sex. But the straight just can't understand.

Hate Crime legislation is a legitimate effort at having the punishment suit the crime. Burning a cross in some black person's yard is not just trespassing or vandalism - it is terrorism and should be treated as such.
Ohg
http://thefiresidepost.com/2007/11/09/hate-crimes-revisiting-the-jena-6/

Murder is murder is murder. Hate Crime legislation is by definition discriminatory. If someone kills a family member of mine in a botched robbery, why should their punishment be any less than for killing someone because they are gay. No matter the reason, we have two dead people that were loved by their family. If you commit murder, you should be put to death no matter who you killed or why you killed them PERIOD

This following comment was deleted earlier by the HuffPo Commissar. I am not advocating violence or even intolerance against homosexuals. I am making a valid point with which most Americans would probably agree. Most Americans feel that the law should protect the rights of all Americans even those with whom they disagree. Though I am against gay marriage, I do not support a Federal statue banning gay marriage. I feel it is up to every state to decide for themselves.

Reposted for your edification:

~

We're Lynn and Pat Mulder of Auburndale, Florida. Our son Ryan was murdered in March because he was a polygamist. We would like to ask the presidential candidates how will they work to promote the value of polygamist families.

We're Lynn and Pat Mulder of Auburndale, Florida. Our son Ryan was murdered in March because he was having sex with his sister. We would like to ask the presidential candidates how will they work to promote the value of incestuous families.


I am sorry for the loss of Lynn and Pat Mulder, but a logic fallacy is a logic fallacy. Family values do not follow murder. No sane person approves of the murder of their son, and yet this sane person does not feel it is the responsibility of the Federal government to push values on a public who feel those values are wrong.

The Mulders' question is how will X candidate "WORK TO PROMOTE THE VALUE" of families having minority sexual-orientation or gender-orientation members.

The question is not about the attendant legal issues. It is not about the attendant political issues. But it simply asks how will YOU work to strengthen the idea that my family, which includes such minorities, is entitled to HUMAN RIGHTS?

So the question itself or any answers won't change the minds of the thoroughly indoctrinated Christo- or any other religiofascist lemmings.

So the amoral neocons will find some insipid "murder is murder" refrain or drag out the "special rights" crap that ignores the question.

But the POSING of the question will help keep the human rights value issue alive in the zeitgeist.

And in and of itself the question will put the candidate on the defensive of explaining why such minorities aren't entitled the human right of life itself.

It will force the candidates to acknowledge that value or show that their prejudices are as vile as Hitler's.

And that, strategically, makes the question absolutely essential.

And--bite my tongue and hope G-d does not strike me dead for saying this--many people on the political right might not be absolute religiofascist lemmings or neocon libertines!

Those in that vast, grey right-of-center wasteland just might "get it" and the answers of the candidates might have some impact on their conscience and their political decision-making.

I love the "special rights" comment. Heterosexuals have over 1400 "special rights" enshrined in law just for getting married. You don't pass a law to prevent discrimination against a group that isn't discriminated against - it would be so much useless ink on paper. And currently, the protections from Hate Crimes - unless ENDA passes - only apply to certain special classes including religious groups.... but not gays. Is being religious a minority?

Equal rights - not special rights.

What I don't understand is why the potential questions for an upcoming debate are being revealed on this website. Shouldn't these be some kind of secrecy unless and until they are asked on live television?

Neocon, excon and con artist.
What do they have in common?
The GOP as their home.

A murder is a murder. Some murder just because of ones color. Others murder because of their sexual orientation. I think the murderers who kill the Gays and Lesbians do so because they feel threatened.
Threatened of what? The Neo Con Parasites, Republican Mushrooms and the Religious Idiots aren't any help because they can justify any reason by repeating whatever mantra passes for their reasoning.
Threatened.. Because they themselves are afraid that they are homosexual and their true feelings will be made public. And they don't want to be homosexual.. So they attack the homosexual to prove to themselves and others that they are not homosexual. And in the process end up in prison and very probabely someones babe.. Heh Heh Heh

I find it odd that the parents of a gay son speak of "gay" values as if they were different than "straight" values. I guess I thought we all had the same values, and that the homophobes out thre were the ones claiming that there was some sort of "gay agenda" or that gay values were somehow different.

It says "Read more about the Mulders here..." and then when you go there it doesn't tell you anything more about them.

What kind of website is this, HuffPo? Are you guys really this amateurish?

Sorry about your son, folks, but the GOP is NOT going to stand up for him OR you. They are too busy denying their own sexuality while soliciting for sex in Men's rooms. They are too busy telling the USA that the biggest threat at home is still gay marriage and abortion.

GOP support equyal rights for ALL?

Bwahahahahahaaaaa..........

If you keep saying I'm different-you are.

But this issue will never be resolved until the millions of Christians worldwide wake up and realize their leaders are not Christian in any true sense of the word.