It really depends. If someone just walked up to the street here in Toronto where I live, and, for instance, with no provocation, called me a faggot for holding

It really depends. If someone just walked up to the street here in Toronto where I live, and, for instance, with no provocation, called me a faggot for holding hands with my girlfriend, that, in my opinion, is hate speech, and that individual certainly could face consequences. If you, say, make a joke about someone being an 'edgefag', 4-chan style, I think that's fine, in context, and somethimg I did myself, years ago. In Law, there's the 'Word' of the law and the 'Spirit', or Intention, of the Law, and ultimately, in a court of law, it's the intention, specifically with hate speech, that really determines if it's criminal in nature or not. Full disclosure: I'm lesbian, polyamourous, and I am extremely happy that my partners and I can feel safe walking around downtown holding hands without people acting this way.