Hate Crime/"Appropriately Gay"

Before Tuesday's class, I had no idea who Matthew Shepard was. After reading the article about his death and after the lecture we had, I couldn't believe how horrifying brutal his death was. I still can't believe that I had never heard about his story prior. In class we discussed whether or not this was in fact a "Hate Crime" or whether it was just coincidence that Matthew was at the wrong place at the wrong time and the two men that killed him just really wanted to kill someone that night and it didn't matter who, so they just randomly chose Matthew. I do believe Matthew Shepard's death was a hate crime and I do believe hate crimes exist, but I don't think every crime is out of hate.  If someone on the street killed an innocent man because he saw that man's wallet in his back pocket and he knew that that man had money, and then used that money for the sole purpose to feed his drug addiction, I don't consider that a hate crime. Yes, that is a horrible horrible thing to do, but the man who killed the other man didn't do it because he hated him, he did it because the only thing he cares about is drugs and he will do anything to feed that habit. Now if someone you knew hated you and they killed you for the sole fact that they hated you or the way you dress or your sexual orientation, then yes, that is a hate crime. 

At the end of lecture on Tuesday, Kristen brought up the question "is there such a thing as 'appropriately' gay?" As my tweet would mention, I said that I don't think there is but our society has to label everything in order for it to make sense to them. If a gay individual is acting "flamboyantly gay" then society automatically know that, yes, that person is definitely gay. But if a gay individual is quiet, shy or keeps to themselves, society labels them as "normal gay" (which, what is that anyway) or even straight. In my eyes there shouldn't even be an argument as to what is considered "gay" or what is considered "straight" because who cares?! I think our society puts too much pressure on how we SHOULD act instead of HOW we treat people.