Well the entire notion of a gay panic defense (which I've yet to see work, perhaps Ann O might know of a case but I don't) is starting out saying "kid you're ->-bleeped-<-ed, we're just going to try to get you a little less ->-bleeped-<-ed," because that defense has to start out admitting that that you killed the person and we're down to arguing intent. The trial is pretty much 99% over at that point. It's not a way to 'get off', it's a beyond desperate attempt to get a murder one charged dropped to manslaughter, which still has some pretty heavy time attached.