On Oct. 6, Matthew Shepherd was killed because he was gay. Nine hundred people attended his funeral in Casper, Wyo. More than a dozen people stood outside holding signs with words such as “God hates gays” and “Matt in hell.”

Blaming groups for hate crimes leads
to tries to ‘silence that voice’

Homosexuals should be afforded the same civil rights as any member of society and should not be discriminated against in any way because of their sexual orientation. Matthew Shepherd was a victim of hate and ignorance, and his killers should be punished to the fullest extent of the law regarding such crimes. Moreover, the actions of those picketing outside his funeral in Wyoming are reprehensible. Phrases such as “God Hates Gays” and “AIDS Cures Fags,” coined by groups claiming to be Christian, do nothing to promote the cause of Christ, they only hurt it.