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Take Action: Homophobia Defensible In Court!?
Don't let New Zealand advocate homophobia by allowing murderers to invoke the "gay panic" defense!
Goal: 15,000
•
Progress: 1,105
Sponsored by: The Hunger Site
In New Zealand, people accused of murder are allowed to defend their actions by claiming they thought the person was homosexual and coming at them with a sexual advance. It's called the "gay panic" defense and it has helped many offenders avoid punishment for their crimes.
For example, during the trial of a man who savagely murdered another by shoving the neck of a banjo down his throat, the murderer successfully invoked the gay panic defense and was only convicted of mere manslaughter.
If we continue to recognize "gay panic" as a reasonable motive for murder, then we continue to enforce the negative and harmful stereotypes about homosexuality. The fact is, regardless of anyone's personal feelings, homophobia simply is not a viable defense. It's insulting to homosexuals everywhere to treat it as such.
Write to New Zealand's Ministry of Justice asking they eliminate the validity of the gay panic defense.
Dear Andrew Bridgman, Secretary for Justice and Chief Executive:
Please remove "gay panic" as a defense for murder in New Zealand.
There have been several murder cases in New Zealand that have involved the invocation of the defense — and many of these perpetrators are now serving reduced sentences, or none at all. Meanwhile the victims and their families are left to suffer knowing justice will never be served for their loved ones.
We cannot stand by and allow homophobia to be validated in this way. If we continue to dignify "gay panic," we only further the sentiment that homosexuality is abnormal, perverse.
You should be promoting tolerance by prohibiting the "gay panic" defense — fear of homosexuality will not be accepted in any situation whatsoever.
Thank you.
Petition Signatures
May 11, 2013
Tori Dickson
May 10, 2013
breanna sylvia
May 7, 2013
(Name not displayed)
This is unjust-it would be like having "women panic" "black panic" any other "panic" of others different than ourselves.
May 5, 2013
(Name not displayed)
May 4, 2013
Alma Pulido
May 2, 2013
Jan Blanchard
Didn't NZ just pass a positive law re 'gay' marriage? If so, where is this rubbish coming from? Gay people are perfectly decent & their way of life is NOT a threat to anyone. Take a good, hard look at yourselves & leave others to live their lives.
May 1, 2013
(Name not displayed)
Apr 30, 2013
Forrest Young
Apr 30, 2013
Alex Hart
Apr 29, 2013
Carrie Thorpe
Apr 28, 2013
Hillery Earl
Apr 28, 2013
ebreia guimaraes
Apr 27, 2013
julien nicogor
Apr 26, 2013
(Name not displayed)
Apr 25, 2013
Janice Elton
Apr 25, 2013
(Name not displayed)
Apr 25, 2013
Hillary Tietsworth
we can't let something like this stand. no one ever uses the "straight panic" defense.
Apr 25, 2013
Richard Bosboom
Apr 25, 2013
JENNIFER JOHNSON
Apr 25, 2013
Barbara Policriti
Apr 25, 2013
john cabala
Apr 25, 2013
Lisa Hoch
Apr 25, 2013
Llewelyn LaVista
Apr 21, 2013
John Pavlak
Apr 21, 2013
Nico Labuschagne
Apr 20, 2013
Nicole Miller
Apr 20, 2013
Miguel Merlo
Apr 20, 2013
Stacey Calvert
Apr 20, 2013
(Name not displayed)
Apr 20, 2013
Shauna Sparlin
Apr 18, 2013
Mollie Schlesser
Apr 18, 2013
Dana Bleckinger
Apr 17, 2013
Kathleen Keske
Apr 17, 2013
dave falcon
Apr 17, 2013
Lynda Barondes
Apr 17, 2013
(Name not displayed)
Apr 16, 2013
(Name not displayed)
Apr 16, 2013
mandy ashe
Apr 16, 2013
Carol Gray
Apr 15, 2013
CATHIE SUMMERS
Apr 15, 2013
Carol McMahon
Apr 15, 2013
(Name not displayed)
Apr 15, 2013
Jennifer Shelton
Apr 13, 2013
Candice Lowery
Apr 11, 2013
Maria dels Àngels Beltran
Apr 10, 2013
Rosa Pastrana Saucedo
Apr 9, 2013
(Name not displayed)
Apr 9, 2013
Jörg-Michael Krah
Apr 8, 2013
Meiju Lehtiniitty
Apr 4, 2013
(Name not displayed)
