Update: I have big news to share!

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I'm absolutely thrilled to tell you that last Thursday, the Oregon House passed Senate Bill 704, which bans the use of the hateful "panic defense" in Oregon criminal trials. The bill is now headed to Governor Brown's desk to be signed into law.

Yesterday, we observed the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which began in 2004 to raise awareness about the violence and discrimination experienced by the LGBTQ+ community. Join the conversation at #TogetherWeAreIDAHOTB [[link removed]] and follow the amazing work of Basic Rights Oregon [[link removed]] as they continue to advocate for justice and equity.

Thanks to the hard work of countless advocates, legislators, and activists like you, we've taken a tremendous step forward toward justice by passing Senate Bill 704, not just for members of the LGBTQ+ community, but for all Oregonians.

Thank you for being part of this movement to make Oregon a safe, equitable, and inclusive state for all.

Rob

Forwarded Message



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Across Oregon and this country, members of the LGBTQ+ community live in fear of violence - simply for being who they are. Tragically, 2020 was the deadliest and most violent year on record for the trans and non-binary community.

Currently, Oregon law allows criminals to defend heinous crimes by claiming that their fears of the victim's sexual or gender expression provoked violence.

This legal tactic – the so-called "Panic Defense" – is nothing more than a legalized and offensive allowance of homophobia and transphobia. The defense depends on the twisted belief that people deserve to be abused for who they are.

The Panic Defense defies decency and mangles the very idea of justice. We can't allow it in Oregon's courtrooms. It's time to end the LGBTQ+ panic defense and ensure the right of every Oregonian to express themselves and live their lives freely.

I'm proud to work alongside Basic Rights Oregon to ensure that Oregon becomes the 12th state to ban this outrageous tactic and protect our LGBTQ+ community.

We had a public hearing [[link removed]] on Senate Bill 704 [[link removed]] in the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning - I encourage you to watch my testimony (starting at 05:52) and listen to other advocates explain why we must get rid of the LGBTQ+ panic defense. Our legal system must protect victims, not blame them.

Onward to justice,

Rob

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