Quote: Michael Airhart on Tony Perkins and Hate Crimes

"Contrary to the wishes of Perkins, we believe that pastors who commit felony violence against gay and lesbian Americans should be punished to the fullest extent possible. But they won't be punished equally, unless sexual orientation is added to existing federal and state hate-crime laws, because at present most such laws treat violent crimes against a victim's race or religion more harshly than violent crimes committed on the basis of the victim's perceived sexual orientation."