Since the Matthew Shepard murder, right-wing Christian political organizations such as the Family Research Council have announced that they deplore violence but that sexual orientation should not be a category in hate crimes legislation.

Their protests against including sexual orientation would carry a lot more weight if they were willing to give up religion as a basis for hate crime prosecution. Instead they just rammed legislation against religious persecution through Congress.

As a lesbian in a loving relationship for over seven years, I find the beliefs of some Christians abhorrent to my moral code. But I do not begrudge them protection against hate crimes.

Why can they not offer me the same courtesy?

Aleta Fenceroy

Resident

Omaha, Neb.