I've never understood how 'hate crimes' are going to be applied.    I think its designation is bad legislation.    You convict for robbery, destruction of property, theft, assault, ect.      We all have things we may 'hate', but that doesn't mean we act out or discriminate against other because of our extreme bias.

LIberalism should be careful.   In the urge to curb tolerance of different lifestyle, we are putting an 'authoritarian' law in place to demand that demands an uncomfortable level of enforced morality (which is a personal choice).   I have yet to see a hate crime, that isn't just piling on sentencing time for a crime against property or self.     Keep it simple. criminalize behavior, don't guess at intent.

Any threat of violence, verbal or otherwise, can still be met through 'assault' charges.    Hate Crimes law are political theater designed to trigger voters emotions.   I just have never understood how 'hate' can be a measurable charge?