According to the Fresno Bee, California may soon become the first state in the country to ban the use of "gay panic" defense in murder cases.
The California Assembly approved AB2501 by a vote of 50-10 this past Wednesday. The legislation would bar defendants from using a victims' sexual orientation or gender as a basis for a so-called "panic defense."
Currently, California allows for murder charges to be reduced to lesser crimes like manslaughter if the killer claims they "panicked" upon discovering someone was gay or transgender.
The American Bar Association has previously announced it's support for reducing the use of panic defenses.
The bill is now on it's way to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature.
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