Bill > S1137

This bill, the Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2021, aims to amend federal law to prohibit the use of the "gay panic" and "trans panic" defenses in criminal proceedings. These defenses seek to partially or completely excuse crimes such as murder and assault on the grounds that the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity provoked the defendant's violent reaction. The bill finds that these defenses are incompatible with federal law's intent to provide increased protection to victims of bias-motivated crimes against LGBTQ individuals, and that their continued use reinforces prejudice and undermines the advancement of a just criminal justice system. The bill adds a new section to the U.S. Code prohibiting the use of these defenses and requires the Attorney General to submit annual reports on federal prosecutions of LGBTQ-related crimes motivated by the victim's gender, identity, or orientation.