Reply #26: On the subject of looking things up

[dsc]

Here is the New York Hate Crimes Statute

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/nycodes/c82/a81.html

S 485.05 Hate crimes.
1. A person commits a hate crime when he or she commits a specified
offense and either:
(a) intentionally selects the person against whom the offense is
committed or intended to be committed in whole or in substantial part
because of a belief or perception regarding the race, color, national
origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability
or sexual orientation of a person, regardless of whether the belief or
perception is correct, or
(b) intentionally commits the act or acts constituting the offense in
whole or in substantial part because of a belief or perception regarding
the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious
practice, age, disability or sexual orientation of a person, regardless
of whether the belief or perception is correct.

end of quote

Note what this law actually says. You would be covered by this law since you have a sexual orientation. It doesn't say gay or lesbian. So if a gay person targetted you because you are straight he or she would be charged with a hate crime.