I guess those of us in the Dallas area remember the "hate crime" that just happened to occur when the legislation was pending, giving it additional impetus for passage. Wasn't it swastikas painted on the church Ron Kirk attended? Funny how that story and investigation were dropped once Perry signed the bill... No outrage from the offended parties that the culprits were never caught - due in part, I think, to strong suspicions that the whole thing was an inside job.
Not that this occurence provided any excuse on Perry's part. It was stupid of him to sign that bill.
I faxed a note to Gov. Perry just before the bill got to his desk, asking him please to reconsider what he was apparently about to do. My point was that the logical conclusion of this law would be to outlaw speech. I said that I could foresee a time when suit could be brought against a minister who preached a sermon against homosexuality, for example.
Weeks later (after it was signed into law) I got a form letter back saying something like "we have to end hate in Texas." As if a LAW could possibly end a human emotion.
This was a HUGE victory for the politically-correct, and a big disappointment for many of us.