This bill would prohibit defendants in federal criminal cases from using the victim's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression as a legal defense to excuse or reduce punishment for violent crimes. The legislation targets so-called "panic defenses," where defendants claim they reacted violently because they were startled or upset by learning a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill allows courts to still admit evidence of a defendant's prior trauma under standard evidentiary rules, but prevents defendants from using the victim's LGBTQ status as justification for their actions. The legislation would require the Attorney General to submit annual reports to Congress detailing federal prosecutions of crimes against LGBTQ individuals motivated by the victim's gender identity or sexual orientation. The bill applies only to federal courts and does not provide new funding or specify implementation timelines beyond the annual reporting requirement.
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