MLK and hating today...In the U.S., while noting  a 1% decline in hate crimes overall in 2008, the FBI notes a 6% increase in those crimes against gay and lesbian people... The gay Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire, Eugene Robinson, must wear a bullet-proof vest at public appearances...Last month a lesbian was raped and murdered by 4 men using homophobic slurs during the attack...

Many social analysts are citing anti-gay pulpits and preaching as a large part of this hatred, criticizing some of the preaching as providing alibis for violence; providing a sense of entitlement to do violence.  While there needs to be potent redress for victims of violence within the legal system, another kind of preacher, MLK, was a realist speaking from pain and experience when he said "Laws cannot change peoples' hearts, but they can restrain the heartless."