CONTACT:

Kelly Simon

Director of Development & Communications

(202) 637-7661

kelly@lgbtbar.org



Cathy Renna

Renna Communications

(917) 757-6123

cathy@rennacommunications.com

National LGBT Bar Association's Gay and Trans Panic Resolution Passed by American Bar Association's Criminal Justice Section AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION ON ITS WAY TO

HELPING LGBT VICTIMS OF CRIMES

June 3, 2013—The National LGBT Bar Association applauds the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section for taking up a resolution to protect victims of so called gay and trans “panic” legal defenses. The resolution supports the LGBT community by no longer allowing defense attorneys to use victims’ identities or their sexual orientation against them in court.



“This resolution puts an end to a longstanding injustice in our legal system and gives a voice to countless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender victims of violence, a voice we never hear because they are no longer here to speak for themselves,” said D’Arcy Kemnitz, executive director of the LGBT Bar.



Gay and trans “panic” defense tactics ask a jury to find that a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity is to blame for the defendant’s excessively violent reaction. The perpetrator claims that the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity not only explain – but excuse – their loss of self-control and subsequent assault of an LGBT individual. By fully or partially acquitting the perpetrators of crimes against LGBT victims, these defenses imply that LGBT lives are worth less than others.



The 15th anniversary is approaching of the murder of Matthew Shepard, a 21 year old college student who was beaten to death by two men. The men attempted to use the gay panic defense to excuse their actions. Despite widespread public protest, the defense is still being used today; most recently in connection with the February murder of Mississippi mayoral candidate Marco McMillian. McMillian was the state’s first openly gay candidate for office. Lawrence Reed, the man who admitted to killing McMillian, has made comments to the press indicating that he might use the gay panic defense to mitigate the charges against him.



“We have been fighting against gay and trans panic defenses for more than 15 years,” said Kemnitz. “We must protect the LGBT community by refusing to allow defendants to use a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity to justify their heinous crimes.”



The National LGBT Bar Association developed the resolution, calling for jury instruction and providing for training for judges, attorneys and juries geared toward supporting victims by minimizing the use of the gay and trans “panic” legal defenses. The ABA House of Delegates must pass the resolution at the 2013 ABA Annual Meeting this August for the recommendations to become official ABA policy.

The National LGBT Bar Association is a national association of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, law students, activists, and affiliated lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender legal organizations. The Association promotes justice in and through the legal profession for the LGBT community in all its diversity. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Lavender Law® Conference and Career Fair, the only one of its kind for LGBT and allied legal professionals.



### The National LGBT Bar Association is a national association of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, law students, activists and affiliated LGBT legal organizations. The Association promotes justice in and through the legal profession for the LGBT community in all its diversity. www.lgbtbar.org

