Let’s Make Connecticut #3!

I found out she was transgender, I just lost it! And I killed her.

That is what is known as the gay or trans panic defense and here in Connecticut, even with all our protections is still legal to use.

In 48 states, being scared of LGBTI people is still an acceptable murder defense
The so-called 'gay panic' or 'trans panic' defense is often used in cases of violence against LGBTI people
Gay Star News
By Rafaella Gunz
June 11, 2017

Back in 2013, The American Bar Association (ABA) released a resolution, calling for all states to ban ‘gay panic’ or ‘trans panic’ defenses in cases of murder and assault.

‘The American Bar Association urges federal, tribal, state, local and territorial governments to take legislative action to curtail the availability and effectiveness of the “gay panic” and “trans panic” defenses, which seek to partially or completely excuse crimes such as murder and assault on the grounds that the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity is to blame for the defendant’s violent reaction,’ their statement read.

They argue that these ‘panic defenses’ have no basis in medicine or psychology. In fact, ‘homosexual panic disorder,’ introduced in 1920 by psychiatrist Edward J. Kempf, is no longer recognizes as a legitimate affliction by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

However, only two states – California and Illinois – have successfully passed bills banning this type of defense. That means, in 48 states, claiming one was ‘freaked out’ by someone’s gender identity or sexual orientation is still a valid excuse for violent crimes against LGBTI people.

Let’s make this illegal here in Connecticut in 2018!