Iowa House Judiciary Committee Moves Forward With HSB 694, Which Would Ban Gay Panic Defenses

I learned today of House Study Bill 693, which was just passed through the Iowa House Judiciary Committee by unanimous vote.

If passed into law, HSB 693 would prohibit a gay or trans panic defense. In other words, defendants could not use the discovery of a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity to justify a murder.

Iowa Safe Schools announced earlier today that they are trying to get a floor amendment passed so that HSB 693 will prohibit gay or trans panic defenses as a criminal defense to any violent crimes.