Sexual Minorities Experience a High Incidence of Violent Crime and Harassment

Sexual minorities experience a high incidence of violent crime and harassment and are often perceived as deserving crime rather than being "innocent" victims.This is because:

A) crimes toward gays and lesbians don't qualify as "hate crimes" and so carry less severe punishments
B) gay and lesbian couples who display their sexuality are seen under the law as asking for trouble
C) gay and lesbian relationships are seen as belonging to the private realm, and some people believe people should not display their homosexual identities in public
D) "homosexual panic" is often used successfully as a legal defense
E) in the past, the law has done little to recognize crimes against sexual minorities; thus, they are victimized without penalty