A Virginia House of Delegates subcommittee on Friday approved a bill that would ban the so-called LGBTQ panic defense in the state.
House Bill 2132 that state Del. Danica Roem (D-Manassas) introduced passed in the House Courts of Justice Subcommittee by a 6-2 vote margin.
State Dels. Mike Mullin (D-Newport News), Vivian Watts (D-Fairfax County), Karrie Delaney (D-Fairfax County), Don Scott (D-Portsmouth), Nancy Guy (D-Virginia Beach) and Carrie Coyner (R-Chesterfield County) voted for HB 2132.
State Dels. Rob Bell (R-Charlottesville) and Les Adams (R-Pittsylvania County) opposed it. Judy Shepard, Wesley Bizzell of the National LGBT Bar Association and Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth are among those who testified