[4sarge]

As far as protection as a minority or protected group goes, it depends on whether you feel sexual orientation is a choice or a hardwired biological process. If it is a choice, no protection. If it is biological, it should probably be protected. You can't choose to be black, asian, native american or any other race. You can't choose whether you are born a woman. That's the point of protection for those groups. If you can't choose to be gay/not gay, then there is basis for protection of gays.

I could not disagree with you more. The law should provide Equal Protection for All, Not Special Protection for Government Legislated Select Groups. Battery is Battery, Murder is Murder, prosecute for the crime actually committed and apply the same criteria to all.