ArticleGov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law on Sept. 28 a bill that limits the use of the so-called "gay panic" defense. The legislation, inspired by the murder of transgender teen Gwen Araujo, is the first law of its kind in the nation. "Gay panic" defenses typically arise in cases in which the victim's sexual orientation played a role in the crime. Defendants argue that they did not intentionally kill the victim and that their rage was triggered after learning that the victim was gay or transgender — meaning they should be punished for a lesser offense, such as manslaughter, reported the San Jose Mercury News.
