STATE LEGISLATORS ARE PROPOSING A BILL THEY WOULD OUTLAW USING A VICTIM’S GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY OR EVEN SEXUAL ORIENTATION FROM BEING USED IN SPECIFIC CASES. IF APPROVED, IT WOULD WIPE OUT THE “GAY TRANS PANIC DEFENSE” THAT THEY SAY IS USED TO JUSTIFY CRIMES AGAINST GAY PEOPLE.
SENATOR JACOB CANDELARIA AND OTHER LAWMAKERS WILL PROPOSED THE MEASURE. CANDELARIA SAYS COURTS TAKING ACTION AGAINST GAYS IS A PROBLEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. MEMBERS OF EQUALITY NEW MEXICO, WHICH ADVOCATES FOR THE LGBQ COMMUNITY, SAYS ENDING THE “PANIC DEFENSE” IS A PRIORITY IN 2019.
