Consider this: Hate is the absence of love and/or respect.
So fundamentally, Hate Crime laws find the accused guilty of not "loving and/or respecting" the 'hated' person or group of people.
It says in effect: "You are guilty of not loving so and so."
In other words, you are found guilty of breaking Gods' command......"Thou shalt love thy neighbor....."
No, hate is the presence of a strong and active animosity.
Hate crime laws codify the ridiculous belief that people should be punished for how they think.