A Bill proposed by State Del. Danica Roem has passed House and now been passed by Virginia’s Senate Judiciary Committee. Bill 2132 was introduced to challenging existing gay and trans panic defence laws that allow perpetrators to argue an individual’s sexual orientation (or gender identity) is the cause of violent behaviour.
The Bill argues: “The discovery of, perception of, or belief about another person’s actual or perceived sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation, whether or not accurate, is not a defence to any charge of capital murder … assault and bodily wounding-related crimes and is not provocation negating or excluding malice as an element of murder.” The next stage for Bill 2132 needs to be presented in front of the