"With all due respect, you're just flat out wrong. Intent is part of the crime, it's referred to in the law as the mens rea element. Each crime has some mens rea element, and the crime and associated pubishment is contingent upon the mens rea, or intent, of the actor. For example, killing someone. If your intent was to hurt them vs. kill them it's going to be different. If you do it in response to provocation, that's different than if you intended to do it for months, planned it and carried it out."
I never said anything about intent. I'm talking about a human emotion, hate, and you are talking about intent and pre-meditation. You completely changed the subject.
Bottom line: If I murder someone, not knowing that person is gay or whatever; my sentence should be no different than if I murder them because they are gay. The person is just as dead either way and the crime is the same. Whether it was because they were gay, because I wanted to rob them or because I was just pissed at the world, it makes no difference. The sentences should be the same. The crime is the same.