While some courts are choosing to ignore science and disregard what is obvious, it appears that Judge David Allen of the Wayne County Circuit Court is very clear headed about the reality we all share. Judge Allen was sentencing Steven Williams, Jr. for shooting Salvagio Vonatti last January. The sentence was lighter than it probably should have been, but it seems they had to work hard to get this much. It is suspected the witness was being threatened by the defendant. Regardless, Judge Allen did a remarkable job of addressing the heart of the issue. The emphasis is mine.

In a sentencing statement, Judge Allen was clear that he regarded the shooting outside of a popular Detroit gay nightspot as a cold-blooded anti-gay attack, recalling that Williams shot Vonatti at close range and calling the victim a “faggot” and other anti-gay epithets.

In addressing Williams directly the judge said, “It haunts this court, Mr. Williams, that you choose to harm someone so vulnerable…. Like you [Mr. Vonatti] is a son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and lover. He loved and was loved and was on this earth to be left alone in peace and happiness. Who and how he loved was none of your business and was no threat to you and the community… Let’s also get one other thing straight that came up in trial. Homosexuality is not a ‘ lifestyle’ or ‘choice.’ Homosexuality is no different than the color of your eyes or hair; you come out of your mother’s womb with no choice in the matter. After all, would anyone in their right mind choose to be homosexual with predators like you shooting them in the head for being gay? Defining the issue as one of choice only makes it easier to hate, condemn and harm as you so illustrate.”

Found via The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
and The Triangle Foundation