ANC Rainbow Caucus urges D.C. Council to pass law prohibiting LGBTQ “panic” defenses
bill, known as the “Bella Evangelista and Tony Hunter Panic Defense Prohibition and Hate Crimes Response Amendment of 2020,” would ban the use of the gay and trans “panic” defense in criminal cases where an LGBTQ individual is a victim of a bias crime.The most recent bill was introduced in September 2019 and was granted a public hearing a month later, in response to calls from local advocates who argued that the defense tactic amounts to victim-blaming.