What is Bias Motivated Behavior?

Bias motivated behavior includes intentionally or unintentionally directing any harmful or hurtful word or action toward an individual or group based upon actual or perceived identity characteristics including: race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, ethnicity, culture, social economic status, gender identity, cognitive, physical, or developmental ability, immigration status, military or veteran status, age, size, and/or shape. Bias motivated behavior may cause psychological, emotional, spiritual, and/or physical harm not only to those who experience the incident, but also to members of the group to which they belong.