MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Today, the House of Representatives voted 223-118 to pass HB 238, prohibiting provocations based on a victim’s actual or perceived gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation from being used as a defense in manslaughter cases. Following the vote, prime sponsor of the bill, Rep. Joshua Query (D-Manchester) released the following statement:
“Across the country, the ‘gay panic defense’ is used, successfully, to excuse the murder of members of the LGBTQ+ community. This bill is entirely constitutional, does not dismiss traditional self-defense lawsuits, and does not deny existing due process defenses. This legislation will correct a dangerous and life-threatening oversight that is needed to protect the safety of LGBTQ+ people in New Hampshire.
Overwhelmingly, Granite Staters value liberty and justice for all and oppose the dangerous discrimination that laws like the ‘gay panic defense’ allow. I am heartened by the bipartisan support to pass this critical protective legislation.”