It's more the way in which the "societal consequences" are dealt with that is at issue here.
We all have the right to call out any behavior or talk we see that we don't like. But, when we support a system, albeit in this case a private one (SPLC), that labels a group as being a "hate group" we are buying into that system of "shaming" in an attempt to socially engineer thought.
A couple of months ago, another church filed suit against the SPLC for giving them a "hate" designation because the Church teaches that homosexuality is wrong, and the base their teachings on bible scriptures. You can see that case here:
Southern Poverty Law Center hate group LGBT lawsuit: Coral Ridge Christian ministry sues | The Kansas City Star
Is it hateful for a church to say that homosexuality is wrong? If we, as a society, are to believe that, are we not shaming that church into silence? And, if we do that, are we not guilty of censoring their right to speak to their beliefs?
The SPLC is creating an atmosphere whereby citizens are taking their "ratings" as truth without thinking about the ramifications for free speech.
Consider the case of Floyd Corkins, who, based on SPLC's label of the Family Research Council as a anti-gay hate group, decided to kill as many of them as possible.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...d8d9dcaa2e2_story.html?utm_term=.813f207dc2fe
Now, any crazy can pick up a gun, and obviously Corkins was crazy, but the SPLC is wielding great power here, and should our 1st Amendment grant them more freedom of speech than the groups they label receive?
The fact is -- we cannot (as a society) punish thoughts. We can, however, punish deeds.
AlbqOwl nailed it on this one.