LGBT
Related: About this forumCalifornia governor signs law outlawing ‘gay panic’ legal defense
The Governor of California has signed a law outlawing the use of the so-called gay panic defense.
The defense which is often used to get more lenient sentences for criminals after assaults and murders is based around the claim that a perpetrator was panicked into committing a violent crime due to an unwanted advance from a gay person.
More recently, the panic defense has also been used to justify crimes against transgender people after discovering their gender identity.
Rights campaigners have long argued that it is deeply homophobic, and last month a bill axing it was passed by the state assembly by a vote of 50-10.
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http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/09/28/california-governor-signs-law-outlawing-gay-panic-legal-defense/
procon
(15,805 posts)and when I first read about it my first thought was that it was a satirical spoof from The Onion. I can't believe that any sane person would have found that gay panic was a plausible excuse, or that men were so knee-knocking terrified of sexuality. Can you imagine women trying to float a similar defense every time some jerk hit on her or made inappropriate sexual remarks?
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)Thanks for addressing this, Governor Brown!
marym625
(17,997 posts)Could use that defense to kill men that made unwanted advances. Can't believe it was ever allowed.
shenmue
(38,506 posts)If only they had passed this years ago.