Illinois bans ‘panic defense’ as an LGBT+ murder justification

Last Friday, the Governor of Illinois signed a bill into law banning the gay and trans panic defense in LGBT+ murder cases.

Panic defense allows individuals convicted of murder to cite sexual advances/flirtations from LGBT+ people as a reason for their actions.

“Today our state is a fairer and more inclusive place for all people,” said Christopher Clark, the Midwest Regional Director for the law firm championing the bill.

Unfortunately, Illinois is the second state after California to impose this ban. However, the American Bar Association is advocating its ban nationwide.

“‘Gay panic’ and ‘trans panic’ defenses rely on anti-LGBT bias and reinforce it, perpetuating a vicious cycle of violence against our communities,” Clark added. “LGBT people, especially transgender women of color, are more likely to be victims of violent crime. We look to courts for justice, not to put victims on trial. We hope that other states will take Illinois’ example and do the same.”

Copyright The Gayly - 8/29/2017 4:14 p.m. CST