LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2025
This bill prohibits defendants in federal criminal cases from using a victim's LGBTQ identity (sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression) as a defense to excuse or reduce punishment for violent crimes. It amends federal law to ban arguments that claim a "nonviolent sexual advance" or inaccurate perception of someone's LGBTQ status justified the defendant's actions. The law allows limited admission of past trauma evidence under standard federal rules but requires the Attorney General to annually report on federal prosecutions involving bias-motivated violence against LGBTQ individuals. This directly affects defendants in federal court cases where such defenses were previously used, aiming to end the practice of treating LGBTQ victims' identities as justification for violence.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jun 26, 2025
Last action Jun 26, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Jun 26, 2025
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
lower
Jun 26, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 58 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Chris Pappas
DDemocratic
Co
Adelita S. Grijalva
DDemocratic
Co
Al Green
DDemocratic
Co
Andrea Salinas
DDemocratic
Co
April McClain Delaney
DDemocratic
Co
Ayanna Pressley
DDemocratic
Co
Becca Balint
DDemocratic
Co
Brad Sherman
DDemocratic
Co
Christopher R. Deluzio
DDemocratic
Co
Danny K. Davis
DDemocratic
Co
Delia C. Ramirez
DDemocratic
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