Gay Panic

Tweet

I found out this morning something that I had never heard of before, and which I doubt my imagination could ever have conceived. Three states in Australia have a defence for murder called the "Gay Panic" defence. In effect, this says that a man who kills a gay man in panic at having been non-violently propositioned has justification. The defence doesn't always work, but it is on the books and has been upheld on occasion. What a bunch of pathetic losers the politicians who passed this bill are. If a woman kills an abusive husband, or a rapist, she will go to jail except in very clear cases. But the gay panic defence has nothing to do with resisting a violent attempt at rape, it is used for a man who simply reacts violently and homicidally to a proposition from a gay man. The defence assumes that a man will quite rightly go psychotic at the horror of it. I don't know if any American states, or any other country has a similar defence, but if not, I hope this discussion doesn't give them any ideas, knowing the extent of homophobia to be found virtually everywhere in the world. I might add that, surprise surprise, it has been conservative (reactionary branch)governments which have passed this law, and in fact two more state governments now ruled by conservatives (reactionary branch)are considering installing similar legislation. Oh yes, oddly enough the leaders of these governments are all self-identified devout Christians. Christ all frigging mighty. I am rapidly developing fantasies of getting a Uzi and assassinating as many reactionary politicians as I can before the police kill me. I'm dying anyway, just a bit slower than from violence, so what the hell. Note: I did say fantasies. I wish Atlas would bloody shrug. Then maybe human beings could run the world. Lash