There is no such thing as "Hate Speech" other than as a category of speech suppressed by authoritarians

I have always been angered by the attempt to create a category of "Hate Speech" which can then be demonized.  Indeed, in some ignorant quarters, there have been attempts to legislate such speech out of existence, despite the First Amendment.  

You can spot an authoritarian based on their attitude towards speech.  If they want to suppress, outlaw, or forbid speech, even "Hate Speech," then you are dealing with an illiberal authoritarian.  

Dawkins pokes fun at the issue and mockery is a useful antidote to reactionary ideas like a belief in "Hate Speech."

I disagree with what you said. Therefore what you said is hate speech.

— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) January 8, 2023

The late Christopher Hitchens goes to the heart of the matter.  To believe in "Hate Speech," one has to delegate the authority to determine what constitutes such "Hate Speech."  There is speech and there is suppressed speech.  There is no such thing as "Hate Speech" other than that class of ideas which are repugnant to authoritarians.

"To whom do you award the right to decide which speech is harmful, or who is the harmful speaker? [...] To whom would you delegate the task of deciding for you what you could read - to relieve you of hearing what you might have to hear? To whom would you give this job?" pic.twitter.com/WW2xiylFRD

— Christopher Hitchens (@Hitch_Slapping) January 7, 2023