Bill to Ban ‘Gay or Trans Panic’ as Criminal Defense Heads to Governor

“A bill to ban the use of a “gay or trans panic” defense in criminal cases in New Jersey courts, where a defendant claims provocation by sudden knowledge of the victim’s sexual orientation or gender, passed the full Assembly on Monday by 76-0 on a concurrence vote,” according to this New Jersey Law Journal article.

The article later stated, “[Sills Cummis Member] Tom Prol, the first openly gay president of the New Jersey State Bar Association and a founding and current executive board member of Asbury Park-based LGBTQ-rights organization Garden State Equality, said he was gratified the bill was one step closer to becoming a reality.

“Prol, who is also a member of the American Bar Association’s governing body, was the sole person to testify in support of the legislation before the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Nov. 18 and the Senate Judiciary Committee on Dec. 5. No group or person testified against the bill.”