Hate crime laws don’t do enough to address bias or to improve the status of minority groups.

Since 1978, out of the fifty states, forty-five have passed some kind of hate crime statute. But do such laws actually lead to beneficial social change for minority groups? Comparing newspaper article coverage of gays and lesbians in states with and without hate crime protections for sexual orientation, Jace Valcore argues that hate crime laws have generally failed to address bias against and improve the status of minority groups. In addition, hate crime laws, which involve punishment and guilt, may be the least beneficial way to achieve sufficient social change.