HR 4432 United States House · 118th Congress

LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2023

This bill prohibits defendants in federal criminal cases from using a victim's LGBTQ+ identity (sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression) as a legal excuse for violence or to reduce sentences - a practice known as the "LGBTQ+ panic defense." It specifically bans arguments that a "nonviolent sexual advance or perception" of the victim's identity justified the crime, while allowing evidence of the defendant's past trauma under standard evidence rules. The law directly affects federal criminal trials where defendants attempt to justify violence against LGBTQ+ victims using prejudice-based excuses. It also requires the Attorney General to report annually on federal prosecutions involving bias-motivated crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jun 30, 2023 Last action Jun 30, 2023
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Jun 30, 2023
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
lower
Jun 30, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 106 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Chris Pappas
Chris Pappas
DDemocratic
NH
1
Co
Photo of Adam B. Schiff
Adam B. Schiff
DDemocratic
CA
n/a
Co
Photo of Adam Smith
Adam Smith
DDemocratic
WA
9
Co
Photo of Al Green
Al Green
DDemocratic
TX
9
Co
Photo of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
DDemocratic
NY
14
Co
Photo of Andrea Salinas
Andrea Salinas
DDemocratic
OR
6
Co
Photo of Andy Kim
Andy Kim
DDemocratic
NJ
n/a
Co
Photo of Ann M. Kuster
Ann M. Kuster
DDemocratic
NH
2
Co
Photo of Anna G. Eshoo
Anna G. Eshoo
DDemocratic
CA
16
Co
Photo of Ayanna Pressley
Ayanna Pressley
DDemocratic
MA
7
Co
Photo of Becca Balint
Becca Balint
DDemocratic
VT
At-Large