[Vicky.]

I honestly don't think racism/homophobia/sexism/etc are as rife as some people would like us to believe. I think quite a lot of people use it as an excuse to be a twat and blame it on something else, if that makes sense? It sounds better to say 'oh I got a black eye for being gay' than it does to say 'oh I got this for being a wanker'

Eg. Gavin has a conviction for a homophobic attack. Whereas it was just a fight, and the person he hit (who hit Gavin's mother first, and thus earned himself the stitches!) happened to be gay. Yet played the homophobe card and the police went along with it.

I have yet to see a real issue of homophobia/racism. Thats not to say it doesn't happen..of course it does. But I don't think its as common as some would have you believe. I really don't.