My son's car was vandalized last night

[njlib]

and I'm sick to my stomach. We live in the mountains of northwest NJ and with the exception of the occasional mailbox being smashed by kids driving by in cars, it's pretty quiet as far as crime goes.

He slept at his friend's house, parked on the street, and woke up to a swastika on the hood, a drawing of a penis, and the words "all fags must die" and "die fag die" all over the rest of his red car in black spray paint. The cops came, took pictures, and told him to save any receipts or estimates he gets to repair the damage. They also said this is happening a lot up here now and that the detective's car has been hit twice already. His friend drove him to school and she'll be taking him to work if he can't get it all cleaned up after class.

My son is gay and has a small rainbow flag on the back door. He drives my old Tracker, so it's right near the spare tire. It's only as big as a shipping label, and it's just the rainbow, no words or printing at all. It's been there for two years now without incident, but I think he's scared. I'll leave it up to him as to whether or not he removes it since he's 19, but how do you get it across to your kid that it's OK for him to be who he is when he has to worry about shit like this?

We've had the "Matthew Shepard" conversation numerous times. I'm always telling him to BE CAREFUL when he goes out because there are too many intolerant assholes in the world and it's usually 2 or more that jump the lone "gay guy". That's my biggest fear...that something will happen to him because of who he is...this whole thing just makes me sick. I have to get ready to go to work and I can't stop crying. WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS? WHAT JOY OR HAPPINESS CAN THEY POSSIBLY GET BY DOING THESE KINDS OF THINGS?

I just had to get this off my chest. Thanks for listening.