Includes bibliographical references (p. [211]-223) and index.

Free expression versus equal protection: what harm is hate speech? -- Race, ethnicity, and hate speech -- Religion and hate speech -- Gender and hate speech -- Sexual orientation and hate speech -- The future of democracy: beyond legal realism.

Cortese (sociology, Southern Methodist U., Dallas) provides his readers with tools for talking back to speech that incites hatred or violence based on religion, race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. Cortese sees prevention as a more effective technique than legal restrictions on hate speech; he outlines a rational basis for rejecting bigoted talk by focusing on equal treatment and equal protection under the law. His focus is on media sources--Web sites, film, television, radio, newspapers, magazines--as well as social movements, pride marches, and demonstrations that fight for minority rights and those that oppose them. He concludes by exploring what readers can do to counter and eliminate hate speech at the individual level. Annotation #169;2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.