ologist in the Bay Area, believes that hate crimes are motivated by four distinct factors, suggesting that homosexual panic is quite unlikely. Self-defense assailants "appear to interpret their victims' words and actions based on the belief that homosexuals are sexual predators, and typically believe that they are defending themselves from homosexual propositions" (Anti-Gay 1). Another type of assailant is motivated by ideology, they "view themselves as social norms enforcers who are punishing homosexuals for moral transgressions." These assailants do not object to homosexuality itself, but "to the visible challenges to gender norms, such as male effeminacy or public flaunting of sexual deviance" (Anti-Gay 2). The two other motivations stem from adolescent development needs. Thrill seekers "commit assaults to alleviate boredom, to have fun and excitement and to feel strong." On the other hand, peer dynamic assailants commit assaults "to prove their toughness and heterosexuality to their friends." Dr. Franklin's conclusions suggest that the likelihood of gay panic is rather low. Murders of homosexuals are more likely to be extreme hate crimes based on these motivating factors. Unfortunately, jurors are still accepting this defense of temporary insanity due to gay panic. Such cases are travesties of our justice system. Just two years ago, after meeting Kenneth Brewer in a gay bar, Stephen Bright, a former hotel executive, went home with him. After an alleged sexual advance, Bright then beat Brewer to death. Although he was charged with second-degree murder, a Hawaiian jury found Bright guilty only of third-degree assault (a misdemeanor) in the killing and sentenced him to one year in jail, with $2000 dollars in fines (Stryker 2; Janofsky 3). He has been out of prison for over a year. Although this incident caused great dismay within the gay community, it failed to make national headlines. The implications of the homosexual panic defense a...
