KALAMAZOO, MI — A break-in and vandalism at a lesbian couple's Kalamazoo home has prompted local leaders to speak out about amending Michigan's hate crime law to include sexual orientation

On July 16, thieves broke into the couple's Northside neighborhood home, stealing items, destroying their wedding photos and splashing hateful words in graffiti on the walls.

The graffiti included homophobic slurs and the message: "Move or die."

Police say they can't seek hate crime charges, because Michigan's statute, the ethnic intimidation act, protects individuals against crimes because of their "race, color, religion, gender, or national origin" -- but not sexual orientation or gender identity.

Jay Maddock, executive director of the Kalamazoo Gay Lesbian Resource Center, said that needs to change.

"This is an unfortunate incident, but it points to our state that it's time our (hate crime) legislation includes gender identity and the LGBT community," Maddock said.

Readers debated the issue in the comment section of a story in on MLive.

Jerrydog had this to say: "is not breaking and entering already a crime? last time I checked... so we need a law to define a law? redundant isn't it?"

HarveyMilks argued that sexual orientation needs to be included: "I'm not generally in favor of hate crime legislation. But if other categories are singled out explicitly in the law, then sexual orientation should be as well."

tescovee disagrees: "Yes, please more laws catered to the gay community. After all, they want to be just like everyone else. except they want laws just for them."

MileHighJoe1 responded: "Gays wouldn't need a law 'just for them' if they weren't still targeted"

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