The BBC isn't clear but you might find he's been ordered to serve a minimum of 14 years before he's considered for release. Particularly given that he's going to a secure mental hospital rather than prison. Those who are deemed to have mental health problems which contributed to their offending often find it much trickier to get released at the end of their sentence .
People ask me why I continue to provide mentoring and support to young LGBT people and attend pride events when we have equal marriage. This is why. Legislation itself doesn't mean people are treated equally on a day to day basis. Legislation is part of the battle but the harder, and more important part is achieving the shift in people's perception of us. It's a point that's hard for my liberal, egalitarian friends to grasp because they live in a world where (they believe) everyone to be treated equally because in their minds they are equal and they live in a bubble where people have similarly accepting views. Put simply they've never accidentally walked through the wrong part of town at night whilst 'looking gay'.
I don't care about anyone's sexuality whatsoever, it isn't relevant. People trying to force their belief it is relevant on me, I just switch off. It's none of my business and don't want it to be my business.
You will do more to change perceptions by just trying to get by. This victim culture is pathetic. Everyone is a victim of some wrong doing at some point in life. Your fat, your tattoo'd, your black, your white etc always some stupid reason for bad things happening.
People who force themselves to be victims because of how they were born is not a way to live. Not everyone is out to get you.
I have a 3 year old son. If he turns out to be Gay? So what. I don't care. It's his life to live and I will support him. Not let him make himself be an automatic victim.
On a side note, most evil attacks are not motivated by sexuality. They are flash in the pan incidents with people not thinking clearly, already having some sense of detachment from reality.
The media don't help by adding the fact he was Gay when there was nothing specific to the crime report which mentions sexuality.
It's like saying "Man Who Prefers Brunettes Bottled in Bar Fight".
I'm an advocate of supporting victims from all walks of life, real victims of crime and hate.