WASHINGTON - The anti-homosexual crowd - most notably the Family Research Council, the Christian Coalition, Concerned Women for America and certain Republican leaders, such as Sens. Jesse Helms and Trent Lott and Rep. Dick Armey - will tell you they had nothing whatsoever to do with the killing of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming. They will argue that they did not know Shepard, who was gay. Nor his alleged assailants, Russell Arthur Henderson, 21, and Aaron James McKinney, 22. Nor the suspects' girlfriends, Chastity Vera Pasley, 20, and Kristen Leann Price, 18.

They will emphatically denounce the torture Shepard suffered this past week when he was pistol-whipped, burned and left for dead, tethered to a fence post outside Laramie, Wyo.

They will articulately bemoan Shepard's lapse into a coma and his death early Monday.

They will call for swift and furious justice to punish the perpetrators who reportedly lured Shepard from a gay bar and attacked him to avenge an unwanted flirtation.

These things the anti-homosexual crowd will do because it's what it always does when the air gets too thick with guilt.

To wit, this news release from the Christian Coalition:
"Christian Coalition and people of faith throughout the nation condemn in the strongest terms the vicious and barbaric attack on Matthew Shepard which resulted in his death last night. Those who committed this murder must be dealt with swiftly by the criminal-justice system. There should be zero toleration in a civilized society for people who commit such acts of senseless violence. In this country, all murder is a hate crime."

You may recall that a few months back, the organization's founder and patriarch, televangelist Pat Robertson, foresaw heavenly torment for the state of Florida because Disney World had hosted "Gay Days." Obviously, Robertson considers homosexuality pretty awful if he believes that God Almighty is provoked to strike.

Likewise, in reaction to the Shepard tragedy, this from the Family Research Council:
"Whoever committed this crime should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law." And "brutalizing a person is a reprehensible act, regardless of the motivation or the group affiliation of the victim."
The Family Research Council, headed by a presidential wannabe named Gary Bauer, has an item on its Web page called "Issues in Depth." One of those issues is titled "Homosexual Culture." The first line reads thusly, "FRC believes that homosexuality is unhealthy, immoral and destructive to individuals, families and societies." Both Robertson and Bauer, who seem haunted to distraction by homosexuality, say that being gay is a dreadful condition that can - and must - be "cured," a position founded on blazing ignorance in defiance of gay testimonials and, more and more, science.

Naturally, the opponents prefer not to acknowledge their own bigotry. Hence, the disguise - or self-delusion - of noble purpose. They insist that they mean no harm. "Hate the sin, love the sinner" is their mantra.

How tiresome, how empty. But, a handy, little motto it is, for sure. Thanks to it, homophobes the world over don't have to reconcile the hate that writhes in their hearts with the Christianity that rests on their sleeves. Chant it enough times, and you can feel almost sanctified.

But, lo. We've seen this scheme before. It was enacted, ironically enough, by the Romans against the early Christians. And later, by European settlers against the Native Americans and enslaved Africans. And later, by Adolf Hitler against the Jews.

We recognize it by its three stages. First, you alienate the offending group by pointing out differences and separating yourselves.

Second, you demonize the group on the cruel premise that, if its members are not like you, and you are good, then they must be evil. This gives license to dehumanize and detest.

The final stage is containment and control of the despised group, for which the surest way is destruction. Therefore, murder is a linear descendant of alienation and loathing.

Did the anti-homosexual crowd help kill Matthew Shepard? Not per se.
But it poisoned the air, which poisoned the minds which connived to attract, deceive and destroy a young man who deserved, in the least, to be left alone.

They share in the complicity.

And so do we for letting them get away with it.