Law eliminates the gay/trans panic defense in murder cases in Maryland – WBAL TV Baltimore

October 6, 2021 News Editor

FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY IN MARYLAND. TRE: BENEATH THE GUN FILINGS THAT PLAESGU BALTIMORE CITY IS ANOTHER CRIME THAT CONTINUESO T TARGET THE TRANS COMMUNITY. >> I SPOKE WITH A YOUNG LADY — WHO SAT AND WATCHED. AS TTHA LADY’S LIFE WAS TENAK AWAY. TRE: EACH PICTURE STARTING IS A TRAGEDY BEFORE EVENTUALLY BECOMING A DISTANT MEMORY. AFTER WHAT ADVOCATES CALL YEARS OF INNOCENT BLOODSHED, A NEW LAW HELPING TO RECTIFY THE PAST. >> THEY RECEIVE VIOLENCE EVERY DAY ON THE STREETS. E:TR HE WORKS WITH TRANS BALTIMORE, NEW GROUP UNDER THE PRIDE CENTER OF MARYLAND WORKING TO MAKE CHANGE IN THE TRANS COMMUNITY. >> WHAT OUR NEW EFFORT IS IS TO REALLY BE A LISTENING EAR FOR THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE RESOURCES AND SERVICES THAT RADICALLY SUPPORT SOME. TRE: THE L LAWIMITS THE GAY-TRSAN PANIC DEFENSE THAT WAS USED AS A LEGAL DEFENSE AND KILLINGS THAT SAID THE DISCOVERY OF THE VICTIMS GENDER IDENTITY CAEDUS THE PERSON TO BE KILLED. IN TURN, REDUCED THE MURDER CHARGE TO MANSLAUGHTER. >> NOAW L THAT CAN DO THINGS TO E THTRANS COMMUNITY, I DID THAT BECAUSE I WAS SHOCKED OR BECAUSE I WAAFS RAID HER BECAUSE THERE IS NOW THAT CAN PUT THE TRANS COMMUNITY SAYING THAT THEIR LIFE DOES NOT HAVE A VALUE AS A PERSON. TRE: THE NEWAW L ON THE BOOKS IN MARYLAND A SLLMA STEP WILSON SAID TOWARDS REAL CHANGE FOR THE TRANS COMMUNITY. >> EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A GREAT THING, THIS IS A POWERFUL THING — MANY MANY YEARS AGO. IT DOES NOT STOP THERE. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A SPTE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, WE ARE NOT THERE YET

Law eliminates the gay/trans panic defense in murder cases in Maryland

A slew of laws is now in effect in October, including one that eliminates the gay/trans “panic” defense in murder cases.Beneath the gun violence that plagues Baltimore City is another crime that continues to target the trans community.”I spoke with a young lady who sat and watched as that lady’s life was taken away,” said Key’Ayshia Tucker, who attended the vigil for Alphonza Watson, a transwoman who was fatally shot in March 2017.Each victim’s picture starting as a tragedy before, some say, eventually becoming a distant memory.And after, what advocates call years of innocent bloodshed, a new law in Maryland is helping to rectify the past.”They receive violence every day on the street,” said Tramour Wilson, of the Pride Center of Maryland & Trans-Baltimore.Wilson works to make change in the trans community.”What our new efforts are is to really be a listening ear to the trans community, and provide resources and services that adequately supports them,” Wilson said.The new law, going into effect in October, eliminates the gay-trans panic defense which was used as a legal defense in killings that said the discovery of the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity caused the person to be killed and in turn, reduced the murder charge to manslaughter.”No longer can you do things to the trans community and use the defense that, ‘I did that because I was shocked, because I was afraid.’ No longer can we sit there and put the trans community below and say that their life is unvaluable or is not valued as a person,” Wilson said.Wilson said the new law is just a small step toward real change for the trans community.”Even though this is a great thing, this is a very powerful thing, and it should’ve been in effect many, many years ago, it doesn’t stop there. It’s a lot more that the trans community needs, and even though it’s a step in the right direction, we’re not there yet,” Wilson said.

BALTIMORE —

A slew of laws is now in effect in October, including one that eliminates the gay/trans “panic” defense in murder cases.

Beneath the gun violence that plagues Baltimore City is another crime that continues to target the trans community.

“I spoke with a young lady who sat and watched as that lady’s life was taken away,” said Key’Ayshia Tucker, who attended the vigil for Alphonza Watson, a transwoman who was fatally shot in March 2017.

Each victim’s picture starting as a tragedy before, some say, eventually becoming a distant memory.

And after, what advocates call years of innocent bloodshed, a new law in Maryland is helping to rectify the past.

“They receive violence every day on the street,” said Tramour Wilson, of the Pride Center of Maryland & Trans-Baltimore.

Wilson works to make change in the trans community.

“What our new efforts are is to really be a listening ear to the trans community, and provide resources and services that adequately supports them,” Wilson said.

The new law, going into effect in October, eliminates the gay-trans panic defense which was used as a legal defense in killings that said the discovery of the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity caused the person to be killed and in turn, reduced the murder charge to manslaughter.

“No longer can you do things to the trans community and use the defense that, ‘I did that because I was shocked, because I was afraid.’ No longer can we sit there and put the trans community below and say that their life is unvaluable or is not valued as a person,” Wilson said.

Wilson said the new law is just a small step toward real change for the trans community.

“Even though this is a great thing, this is a very powerful thing, and it should’ve been in effect many, many years ago, it doesn’t stop there. It’s a lot more that the trans community needs, and even though it’s a step in the right direction, we’re not there yet,” Wilson said.