The Gay Panic Defence Just Got Scrapped In QLD! How Was That Still A Thing?
"It [was] a law that demeans same-sex attracted Australians and perverts the cause of justice."
If you don’t know how to feel about this story, fair enough. On the one hand, it’s fantastic that so-called “gay panic” is no longer a legally acceptable defence for killing someone in the state of Queensland! On the other hand… how the hell was that even still a thing?
Focusing on the positives, Queensland state parliament yesterday passed an amendment to the criminal code, removing a loophole that previously allowed for the reduction of murder changes to manslaughter in the event that the accused had been subject to unwanted sexual advances. According to Attorney-General Yvette D’ath, “the passing of this legislation sends an important message that discrimination is not acceptable and that we value the LBGTI community.”
“It sends a message [that] Queensland’s criminal code does not condone or encourage violence against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex community,” she added.
The change in law, which passed through parliament with bipartisan support, comes after Wayne Robert Ruks was bashed to death in 2008 in the town of Maryborough. His killers subsequently got off with a lighter sentence after they alleged that Ruks made homosexual advances towards them.
Local Catholic priest Paul Kelly subsequently campaigned for the loophole to be closed, describing the law as “homophobic, archaic and outdated”. His petition on Change.org attracted some 290,000 signatures.
“It’s been a personal journey and a very emotional journey,” said Father Kelly yesterday. “I think this is a great victory, to have everybody stand equally under the law.”
In an editorial published last night in The Brisbane Times, gay comedian and broadcaster Tom Ballard wrote that he was “filled with hope by this small victory”.
And in happier news, the ‘gay panic’ defence for murder was abolished in QLD, and @TomCBallard is a deadset prince.https://t.co/Z8Oichjcl7
— Benjamin Law (@mrbenjaminlaw) March 21, 2017
“I’m no fan of organised religion and the Catholic Church in particular has a less-than-glowing record on queer rights, and yet here I am, standing side-by-side with a Catholic priest, working together to overturn this homophobic law; a law that demeans same-sex attracted Australians and perverts the cause of justice,” wrote Ballard. “I am inspired and grateful that so many of my fellow citizens recognise that injustice.”
For the record, gay panic laws are still on the books in South Australia, which is beyond awful.
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h/t ABC. Feature image via Wikimedia.