MADISON, Wis. -- Two teenagers were attacked at East Towne Mall Monday night, in what authorities are calling a hate crime.

The 17- and 18-year-old boys were leaving a mall store when two former classmates began making comments about the victims' sexual orientation.

"The victims kept walking throughout the mall and were being badgered by the other individuals," said Officer Mike Hanson. "The victims were trying to avoid the individuals, who continued badgering about their sexual orientation. Ultimately it led to a fight."

A fight described by some mall-goers as, "disturbing."

"It was a large disturbance," said Hanson. "Multiple people saw what was going on. It was very disturbing because of the amount of punching and pushing that went on."

The suspects were eventually arrested and charged with battery, hate crime, disorderly conduct and obstructing justice, among other things.

"One of the most disturbing things about this situation is that it was right out in a very public place," said Outreach board president Bill Turner. "Surely the attackers must have known they were going to get caught. That indicates a level of confidence on the part of the attacker that I think is very disturbing here, too."

Disturbing, but not surprising according to gay rights advocates.

Less than one week ago Massachusetts teenager Jacob Robida went on a violent rampage at a New Bedford, Mass., gay bar injuring three patrons.

Robida was later apprehended in Arkansas, but not until after he shot and killed a state trooper and friend and staged a shootout with police. Robida later died.

Less than one month ago two UW teens were charged with 17 hate crimes for destroying a gay issues bulletin board at Ogg Hall.

Gay rights advocates say gay issues have been at the forefront of many national issues, including politics.

"There's been an ongoing debate for the past 16 years over various parts of lesbian and gay rights issues," said Turner. "The 'don't ask, don't tell' in the military, the employment non-discrimination act in Congress, the same sex marriage, which has really attracted the most attention over the entire period."

And gay issues have been on the big screen with the controversial film Brokeback Mountain.

All of the issues, positive or not, mean increased visibility for gay and lesbian people.

"There's a pretty clear correlation that anytime any sort of discussion comes up, one of the results is increased violence against lesbian and gay men," said Turner.

According to statistics with the U.S. Department of Justice, sexual orientation hate crimes are on the rise, although many go unreported.

Experts estimate that more than 6 million gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people have been victimized in their lifetime.

But only about 1,200 of those victims actually report it to police.

In Madison there were five hate crimes in 2005 and six in 2004. Of those 11, only one was about sexual orientation.

Turner urges more victims to report sexual orientation hate crimes as soon as they happen.

The UW's LGBT Task Force is working to increase tolerance of all students.

The group is planning several events throughout the spring including two documentaries with discussion panels.

A T-shirt campaign is also planned.

The group is also trying to raise money to put an ad campaign together.