Ep 23. Pride

In Law & Order season 5 episode 23 titled "Pride," the focus is on the murder of a young gay man named Tommy Dowd. The episode starts with a police officer finding Tommy's body tied to a tree in a park. As they start investigating the case, they learn that Tommy was attending a party with other gay men in the park when he was attacked. The detectives start interviewing the people who were at the party, including Tommy's boyfriend, Todd.

The investigation takes a different turn when they learn that Tommy's father, a successful businessman, did not approve of his son's lifestyle. He had even tried to put him in a gay conversion therapy program. The detectives start looking into the father's past and uncover some dark secrets. They also learn of a conversation between the father and his friend, who makes a homophobic comment about Tommy.

The detectives also investigate a local conservative activist group to see if they were involved in the murder. They discover that the group had organized a rally against gay rights in the park around the same time as the party. The detectives bring in several members of the group for questioning, but they deny any involvement in the murder. However, they do reveal that they had seen Tommy at the party and made derogatory comments about him.

As the investigation continues, the team discovers a connection between Tommy and a wealthy businessman who had an affair with him. The businessman is not pleased when the detectives start questioning him and claims that he had nothing to do with the murder. But the detectives find evidence that links him to Tommy's death.

Throughout the episode, the detectives deal with the challenges of investigating a hate crime. They are forced to confront their own biases and prejudices, as they struggle to understand the motives of the people involved in the murder. They also have to navigate the media attention and the pressure from the LGBT community to find justice for Tommy.

The conclusion of the episode is a satisfying one, with the detectives bringing the killer to justice and giving Tommy's family some closure. The episode also raises questions about the challenges faced by the LGBT community and the discrimination and violence that they have to deal with on a daily basis. Overall, "Pride" is a well-crafted episode, with complex characters and a thought-provoking storyline that will keep the viewers engaged.