I've never understood the concept of "hate crimes". If someone beats you or kills you, what does it matter why? Why is it considered a worse crime for a white person to kill a black person than for a black person to kill a black person? They are just as dead.
I can only figure they are "feel good" laws passed to appease a special interest group.
As far as bad experiences as Paulette, think of yourself as a woman. There are places women don't go alone or at certain times of day because bad things might happen to them. There are things that women don't do or say for the same reason.
Being in public as a woman gives you a new perspective on life. That's probably a good thing.
