which type of sociological theorist would make the following observation:
Hate crime laws exist because people's ideas about the meanings of things like sexual orientation have changed over time. Once gay and lesbian people started coming out to friends, families and co-workers, it became harder for people to maintain negative attitudes about them. Through interactions, people began seeing gays and lesbians as ordinary folks they know who shouldn't be discriminated against. Over time, this change in meanings and attitudes came to be reflected in law, such as hate crime laws.