The first of Ryan Skipper's two accused killers was found guilty of second-degree murder. Governor Crist and Attorney General McCollum stood silent in the wake of Ryan Skipper's murder, saying it inappropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation. With this trial concluded, that excuse won't stand.

Ryan's murder was clearly a hate crime. During his closing statement, State Attorney Castillo said the brutality of Ryan's murder indicated, "hatred, contempt and utter disregard for another human being because he was gay."

Ask Governor Crist and Attorney General McCollum to stop their silence around anti-LGBT hate crimes and speak out. Only when our state leadership loudly condemns these actions, can we begin to heal the hate.