But that's an assumption that you're making... It is a possible one, and maybe even probable, sure. But based on the context available, at least two people (the ones I replied to) seem to think that violence against people strictly for doing drag is qualified as a federal hate crime; which it is not as far as I can tell. And neither the police or this news outlet referred to it as one.

https://www.justice.gov/crt/hate-crime-laws

It took you 15 seconds to Google an Illinois law that confirms what I said based on actually available information...

Based on the information we civilians actually have this is not a hate crime at either the state or federal level.