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Lamont signs legislation banning 'gay panic' as legal defense
Posted: Updated:The governor signed legislation today prohibiting criminal defendants from using gay and transgender panic as a defense strategy.
“Claiming that meeting or interacting with someone who is gay or transgender elicited some type of temporary insanity that is supposed to justify a violent crime is ludicrous, and quite frankly it is absurd that this tactic has ever been successfully utilized in the court system,”Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement. “The strategy also implies that the life of a gay or transgender person is valued less than others. We will not allow homophobia and transphobia to be legitimate reasons that justify violent crime.”
The legislation had been passed unanimously by both the state Senate and House of Representatives. The law goes into effect Oct. 1.
Connecticut is the fifth state to ban the legal tactic.
Power & PoliticsMore>>
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Blumenthal, Murphy campaign in Washington to end gun violence
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Blumenthal pushes law to take down sky high airline fees
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Rep. Jim Himes, a Democrat representing Connecticut’s 4th District, has become one of the most visible and persistent questioners this week during the impeachment inquiry.
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Connecticut Top StoriesTop StoriesMore>>
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Police identify body found in abandoned factory building in Bridgeport
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Police identify man killed in crash on Black Rock Turnpike
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Police: Man shot multiple times in Bridgeport
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Sesame Street puppeteer Caroll Spinney dies at age 85
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Fairfield police officer honored for saving 72-year-old man
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Poll: National Brownie Day
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WFSB: Connecticut news legend Denise D’Ascenzo dies in her home
News 12 Connecticut would like to express our deepest condolences to the D’Ascenzo family and everyone at WFSB-TV.
News 12 Connecticut would like to express our deepest condolences to the D’Ascenzo family and everyone at WFSB-TV.
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NYPD officials: Razor found in deli sandwich that injured officer was an accident
On Saturday, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea tweeted that after a thorough investigation, "It has been determined that the razor incident was indeed an accident."
On Saturday, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea tweeted that after a thorough investigation, "It has been determined that the razor incident was indeed an accident."
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