Shelby said:
Probably not all that long, especially in more rural areas.
But I think it's probably been awhile since they've been executed by the gov't here.
Let's rehash. Here gay marriage is being debated. Some of our leaders support the idea, some don't. In six countries there gays are executed under existing law (not the lunatic fringe). Countless others invoke harsh penalties.
Slightly less benevolent indeed.
There is nothing that says the violent minority of any group cannot overtake a government. Attempts are ongoing here. Just because that is the official government policy, that does not mean that the religion is to blame... just some idiots' interpretation of it.
Governments all over this country do not perhaps have death penalty for homosexuality as the policy. But it often is viewed as a mitigating factor in murder trials. The "gay panic" defense doesn't always work, but it doesn't always "not work", either. For lawyers to even convince or allow their clients to claim a "gay panic defense" says volumes, in my humblest of opinions.
And just for the record,
Lawrence v. Texas notwithstanding, most of the 50 US still maintain laws that designate any homosexual activities as felony offenses. No, not the death penalty (in most cases) but still criminal. And it is not because of the moderate, accepting christians, either - its the hard-core misguided fundies that support these laws.