Letter to Representative Regarding LGBTQIA+ Defense Issues

Dear [Representative Name],

My name is [Your Name here] and I am a constituent of [District]. I am writing you today to discuss many issues in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual Plus (LGBTQIA+) communities, as well as the people it affects. I personally identify as [sexuality, gender here] and [have been/know people who have been] affected by these issues.

One of the biggest issues and fears regarding [being LGBTQIA+/being an ally of LGBTQIA+ people] is the fact that [State] has no protections against what is defined as the LGBTQIA+ panic defense. The LGBTQIA+ panic defense is a legal defense that allows a person to murder a LGBTQIA+ person and their defense team to claim insanity/diminished capacity, provocation, or self defense and get the murderer off the hook for the violent hate crime they’ve committed. I will not, and have no intention to hurt anyone because of my sexuality, yet someone can murder me and get off the hook because they think I am a threat because of my sexuality. This is unacceptable and blatantly homophobic.

Imagine if one of your children came out as a member of the community and someone found out and shot them. Imagine how messed up it would be if you couldn’t get justice for your child because your child’s killer said they panicked and shot your kid because he/she was gay. That happens, in this state, and in 31 others. We, as a community, fear it everyday. And it is messed up. It should be illegal. Any blatantly homophobia-rooted killing of a LGBTQIA+ person should be charged as a hate crime.

You have the power to change that. You have the power to save lives. I sincerely hope and urge you to use it, and introduce a state or federal [Senate/House] bill that prevents the defense of homophobia-rooted murders of LGBTQIA+ people. By doing so, you will show your support for the LGBTQIA+ constituents of [State] and prevent the many unjust murders that happen daily, all accross America. I am pleading with you to do something, and not just stand idle while hundreds of LGBTQIA+ people die every day. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

[Sign here, black ink]

[Your name]