After reading the essay on Brandon Teena, I was extremely mortified that someone could commit such a crime to another human being. I really don’t understand why it matters that Brandon Teena was originally born a man or a woman because it doesn’t affect anyone else’s lifestye or beliefs. I found it interesting that his girlfriend wasn’t upset about his choices, but others cared and were offended by his life. Similarly, Matthew Shepard, was discriminated against because he was a homosexual male. Not only was he discriminated against he was brutally beaten and left for dead in freezing temperatures. It has been argued that his death was justified because 2 days before he stated he wanted to commit suicide. THere is also discourse because it was also said he was only beaten because of a robbery. All in all I believe that hate crimes are horrible, and unnecessary. Neither of these men were affecting anyones lives but their own.