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Meanwhile, it’s still permissible in 39 U.S. states.View Story Although the controversial legal strategy has been condemned by groups like the American Bar Association, 39 states currently allow criminal defendants to exploit the deceased’s LGBTQ+ identity to seek a reduced sentence. According to the Movement Advancement Project, just California, New York, Illinois, Nevada, Washington, Maine, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Colorado have taken action to outlaw the panic defense. But on Tuesday, the Council of the District of Columbia elected to add the nation’s capital to that list, makin...

Councilmember Charles Allen helped push the new hate crime bill through, which bans gay and trans panic defences in Washington DC. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty) Washington DC has voted to ban gay and trans panic defences from being used by attorneys in criminal trials in a landmark win for LGBT+ rights. Gay and trans panic defences have been heard in courtrooms around the world when a person accused of a violent crime, such as a murder or attempted murder, claims that the shock of finding out a person is LGBT+ pushed them to commit the act. Attorneys have successfully argued th...

DC Council passes hate crimes omnibus bill, bans gay and trans “panic” defenses Bill expands types of crimes that can be prosecuted, and allows D.C.'s Attorney General to seek civil damages for hate crimes 203SHARES Councilmember and Judiciary Chair Charles Allen – Photo: Facebook. On Tuesday, the D.C. Council unanimously approved a hate crimes omnibus bill that strengthens the District’s ability to protect residents from hate crimes, and bans the use of gay or trans “panic” defense as a justification for a perpetrator’s violent acts. The bill is known as the “Bella Evangelist...