Wipe your mouths, boys. Your drool is showing.

Word came down today that something many thought was a hate crime may not have been so:

The cousin of a 72-year-old gay man whose death became a national focus for gay rights advocates and a catalyst for legislation said Thursday she won't stop asking questions even if police have.

Athena Fedenis said she was stunned to learn that Detroit police have closed their probe into last month's death of Andrew Anthos after the department was unable to find witnesses to a beating. It also stopped the investigation after the Wayne County medical examiner's office ruled Anthos fell because he had an arthritic neck, not because he was struck by an assailant during a hate-fueled attack.

According to Fedenis and other family members, Anthos said he was riding a city bus home from the library on Feb. 13 when a young man asked him if he was gay and called him a "faggot."

Naturally, our friend Peter at Americans For Truth (in name only) is spinning what happened as a plot by the gay community to force hate crimes protection. And I am sure that in the coming days, assorted bloggers and anti-gay industry groups will be sounding the drumbeat.

But don't get to happy, guys.

While they seem to be salivating over the possibility of catching the gay community in a degree of unchecked stridency in which some of us may have jumped the gun, I am not worried.

The anti-gay industry will overplay their hand in this matter. They always do.

Whatever the truth is about Mr. Andros's case, it still does not take away the fact that hate crimes protections still exists and this new law being pushed through Congress will merely add sexual orientation to the list of protections (the others being race, religion, and natural origin).

Why is it so hard for Focus on the Family, the Traditional Values Coalition, etc. to explain how adding sexual orientation to hate crimes legislation will cause Christians to be persecuted when the other categories have not caused any problems.

For those wanting more information, John Aravois nails the anti-gay industry over their lies

I guess it is easier to lie and distort even if you consider yourself a Christian.

And speaking of lies, while Peter and company are bitching about the Andros case:

The American Family Association is still selling It's Not Gay, featuring Michael Johnston claiming that he is no longer gay. Keep in mind that while he was making this claim, Johnston was having unprotected sex with gay men, despite the fact that he is HIV positive.

And Americans For Truth (in name only) still features the new phony study from Paul Cameron, ignoring his history of distortion and censure.

So boys, before you attack the gay and lesbian community for the Andros case, look to yourselves.

Even wannabe Christians who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.