Final answer:
Hate crimes against individuals based on their characteristics are called bias-motivated crimes, which can include assaults, harassment, and violent offenses. These crimes target individuals because of their race, religion, or other personal attributes. The murders of Brandon Teena and Matthew Shepard highlighted hate crimes based on gender expression and sexual orientation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hate crimes against individuals based on their characteristics are called bias-motivated crimes. These crimes target individuals because of their race, religion, or other personal attributes. Hate crimes can take various forms, such as assaults, harassment, and violent offenses. For example, the murders of Brandon Teena and Matthew Shepard brought attention to hate crimes based on gender expression and sexual orientation, highlighting the importance of addressing and preventing these biases.