| This thesis explores the question of whether the presence of state hate crime statutes can affect the rate of anti-gay hate crimes. I take into consideration whether hate crime statutes specifically cover homosexuality. Using a fixed-effects model, I control for demographic, religious, educational and political factors within state populations. With these controls in place, I find that state hate crime statutes are less significantly correlated with anti-gay hate crimes than are racial hate crimes, racial demographics, unemployment, population size and education. I begin with an overview of the anti-gay hate crime situation, after which I introduce relevant literature and explain the conceptual framework and methodology behind the models explored. I then examine results from the models and, finally, discuss future research needs and policy implications. |
