Bill > HB2358

This bill amends Arizona law to explicitly prohibit the use of "gay and transgender panic" as a legal defense for violence, which historically has been used to justify assault or murder based on a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill adds a new section to the Arizona Revised Statutes that clearly states a person cannot be justified in threatening or using physical force against another individual based on discovering, knowing about, or potentially disclosing the person's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. This includes situations where the victim made an unwanted, non-forcible romantic or sexual advance or where the parties previously dated or were in a romantic or sexual relationship. Additionally, the bill modifies the definition of "adequate provocation" to specifically exclude a person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression as a legally acceptable reason for losing self-control. The bill also adds definitions for terms like "gender identity" and "sexual orientation" to provide clarity in the law, effectively eliminating the controversial "panic defense" that has been used to minimize charges or justify violence against LGBTQ+ individuals.

Justice

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/82151