honestly, i think the weird standards of society are all screwy
im a big guy, but generally dont resort to violence, because i know if i do, im going to get the ultimate blame even if im the real victim.
however, if someone, male, female, young or old, attacks me, i will reply with adequate force. if a girl has a baseball bat or metal rod or a knife or something, and has serious intent to use it against me or someone else, i will use whatever force is necessary to disable her. this thing of never hit a woman is ludicrous, just because of a persons gender or age... if someone is attacking you with intent and capability of seriously inguring or killing you, you fight back with everything you have...
as for hate crimes... how do you define something as such? its like, the guy was angry, so its a hate crime...