Are atheists minorities?
Would it be hate speech when religious people insulin me?
People in Malaysia would say so I guess
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1417256
In a more satirical take I guess you could say non-believers are still a minority in America too
The Pew Religious Landscape survey reported that as of 2014, 22.8% of the U.S. population is religiously unaffiliated, atheists made up 3.1% and agnostics made up 4% of the U.S. population. The 2014 General Social Survey reported that 21% of Americans had no religion with 3% being atheist and 5% being agnostic.
Of course, no one will take you "seriously" if you suggest an atheist is a minority in America, irrespective of the stats. It's a case of handle your emotions and feelings like an adult and be tolerant enough of anti-science and anti-reason as it's diversity of thought. I mean, it is, and no, I don't want people jailed for believing in/saying things I find idiotic to science and reason. I don't want Christians jailed for literal interpretations of the Bible, as repugnant as I think they are. We know Christianity and Catholicism are mostly fair game in most Western countries though, as they can't carry the "minority" tag. What's that thanks to?.... Years of freedom of speech/expression. We can criticise, satirise and ridicule. Although, I needn't say more than many within religions think that is hate speech itself. Cue the on-going arguments about what is hate speech when it comes to religions, rather than just accepting personal beliefs and ideas will be challenged/spoken about. Sometimes in offensive ways, but, that's life, and if it isn't a threat or incitement you need to be an adult and engage with your own speech or walk away/disengage if angry/emotional.
The battle of ideas when it comes to personal beliefs and views has to be fought/challenged with resisting/challenging speech. If you begin to try and criminalise speech at a Governmental level, such as a jail sentence, you're effectively saying you can't be bothered putting in the needed and constant effort to challenge shitty ideas with better ones. Just put the idiots, bigots and problematic speakers in jail, that'll teach them (and cost us taxpayers money to boot!). Unless it's incitement to violence or physically harmful and oppressive manifestations of someone's beliefs, most societies function best if a Government doesn't have wide spread reach to prosecute and arrest over speech. It's the height of good intentions getting met with a hacksaw of implementation. The battle of ideas has always required a scalpel knives precision since mankind could communicate. Private entities, firms, spaces and things like social media have always been able to obligate you adhere to terms and conditions and so on. That's fine. Banning/barring/firing can happen for speech in life outside of the Government being involved.
Bigotry, hate and racism hasn't ceased to exist in Europe just because Governments dash to introduce more and more speech codes/laws they can go after people for. It's primarily a tribalistic problem, as well as educational, and learnt, and it will be as long as humanity walks on earth. We have to fight it wisely, and understand it will never be eradicated, merely suppressed/challenged/resisted. Just remember the more powers and laws given to Governments doesn't always correlate to everything being peachy. As I posted on the previous page just look at what the UK Government is getting up to around privacy, speech and expression. A right wing UK government. It needn't be pointed out for the umpteenth time in democracies in Europe/West political parties of all leanings can be elected. America actually has the strongest protection into the foreseeable future from a Government being able to trash a citizens individual rights to expression. You might think all that matters in the world is the years of 1 to 90+ of your life, but anything up to 100 years is a drop in the ocean. Humans and civilization will be around for long after you're dead.
So many Americans seem to hate the 1st amendment but at times I think some are cutting off the nose to spite the face. Just remember those Malaysians referenced at the start of this post would probably be overjoyed to have a 1st amendment. Then also remember as I said the world doesn't begin and end with you being born and dying. Time will tell how the societies end up that continue to go after more and more speech laws and codes. We already have many examples of said countries in the world, but of course, your country and your favourite political party could never get it wrong. Just keep legislating more and introducing more bills and surely eventually all the bad speech will go away? I'm not convinced, and as the premise of this topic started at the level of prison, I'm really not convinced with that suggestion.
Edit: For a stupid example of a UK hate crime sentence which could result in a year of jail look up Nazi pug guy. The person is a moron and deserves whatever social ire and criticism comes with making the YouTube video (that is still live - "M8 yer dug is a nazi"), but jail? No. Waste of money and the height of crazy. Dumb jokes and satire should be challenged and spoken about, not criminalised. Unless there is serious incitement. Being offended shouldn't just lead to someone being put in prison. That's how it goes in some countries... Yeah, we criticise said countries, which are usually dictatorships and insanely hostile to free expression.