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# You can hate, just don’t act on it
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/you-can-hate-just-dont-act-on-it-editor/
- Published: 2007-10-18T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T03:29:26.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Dan Wentzel Santa Monica*

Regarding John H. Whitehead’s column (“Matthew Shephard Act hates on everybody,” Oct. July 12), I take it from his opposition to hate crimes legislation protecting gays and lesbians that he himself hasn’t been assaulted, beaten or killed because of his real or perceived sexual orientation. He should consider himself very lucky, as I am sure that many of us LGBT residents of Santa Monica, not to mention the rest of America and the world, have real-life stories of experiencing anti-gay bigotry that would make your toes curl.

The fact that he uses the terminology “homosexual street fair” rather than “gay pride event” is very revealing about his probable inherent bias on this matter.

He also disingenuously refers to “Christians” who were prosecuted under hate crimes laws as if all Christians agree on this matter, when he should have more accurately used the word “fundamentalist Christians” or even better simply “anti-gay bigots,” for there are many faithful, believing Christians who do not hold anti-gay prejudices.

The Matthew Shepard Act is a vital piece of legislation that gives the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence by providing the department with jurisdiction over crimes of violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It also provides the Justice Department with the ability to aid state and local jurisdictions either by lending assistance or, where local authorities are unwilling or unable, by taking the lead in investigations and prosecutions of violent crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury that were motivated by bias. Nothing sinister here at all.

No one’s free speech or free thought is being taking away by hate crimes laws. It is only when people express that hate through violent criminal behavior will they be prosecuted. Anti-gay bigots will still be free to stew in and express their bigotry in private and to each other as long as they still care to hold such vile beliefs.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 18, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/101807.pdf?ref=smdp.com)