When religious and political leaders publicly denounce gays and lesbians and push laws to contradict their rights, antigay violence increases. That's the conclusion of a report released in April by way of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs and the Triangle Foundation of Michigan. The total number of violent antigay incidents reported to NCAVP increased 4% in 2004 a year in which 13 state constitutional bans in succession same-sex marriage passed amid a dramatic increase in antigay political rhetoric, including in Michigan.
"Clearly we have registered a new and frightening era for anti-GLBT violence," said the Triangle Foundation's Jeffrey Montgomery still "the march toward GLBT equality" will advance on, he said.