Well, this may or may not be a threadjack, but the problems we see this case parallel the problems I have with Hate Crime Legislation.
In a sense, the guy in this case is getting overly punished because he's homosexual (or, at least, because he committed a homosexual act). Much in the same way hate crime legislation would overly punish a criminal for being a racist (or a homophobe, etc.). And it should not be a crime to be either a homosexual or a racist.
Some might say that there's a clear difference between these two scenarios, in that there's nothing wrong with homosexuality, while there's something clearly wrong with racism. I'd wholeheartedly agree with that, but I also realize those are completely subjective opinions. And in any case, determining the right/wrongness of either homosexuality or racism is not something for the courts, or even the government, to decide.
Just my two cents. Ironic that I turned this case into something that shows my dislike for hate crime legislation, when it itself is a hate crime.
