superwholockian:

stfuconservatives:

torturedtangledhearts:

From Paul Kelly -
A loophole in Queensland law allows people accused of murder to defend themselves in court by claiming “gay panic” — that is, if someone who they think is gay “comes onto” them, the sheer panic they feel is partial justification for murder.

This law belongs in the dark ages —affirmed by the High Court in the notorious Green case in 1997, when a man responded to “gentle touching” by brutally murdering his victim.

The killer’s argument was this: “Yeah, I killed the guy, but what he did to me was much worse.”

Just over two years ago, a man was murdered in my church’s grounds, and his killers used this same “gay panic” defence. They were eventually acquitted of murder. I’m utterly appalled that a law that so revoltingly and openly discriminates against gay people is still tolerated in a modern society. Laws like the “gay panic” defence are a crucial part of legitimising and reinforcing a culture of hate which means that 73% of gay and lesbian Queenslanders are subjected to verbal abuse or physical violence for their sexuality.

While almost all other state governments have abolished similar laws, and refuse to admit evidence of non-violent homosexual advances in murder trials, nothing has changed here. Queensland is now one of the last states upholding the idea that a person can be panicked enough by gay and lesbian people to justify murder. In addition, the mere introduction of this evidence pollutes jury deliberations. That’s why I am calling on the Queensland parliament and LNP leader Campbell Newman to eliminate this law as a partial defence for murder, and forbid non-violent homosexual advance being treated as evidence in any murder trial. This situation cannot go on.

Please sign and help eliminate this antiquated, 17th century defence from our law books.

Take the message of why you signed the petition directly to Campbell Newman, who is likely to become Qld Premier in March: http://on.fb.me/y8qPeA

For more information, see recent news coverage here:

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/better-laws-needed-to-protect-gays/story-e6frerdf-1226160221310

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/men-jailed-over-churchyard-homosexual-bashing-death-20100513-v099.html

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/gay-men-targets-of-violence/2008/11/02/1225560616212.html

Sign it!

(Can you imagine if there was a law that made murder legal if a straight guy wouldn’t stop hitting on you? I once reblogged a thing that said homophobia was basically straight men’s fear of being treated like they treat women. When it’s a gay man hitting on a straight man, it’s a murder-worthy offense; when it’s a straight man hitting on a woman, she was asking for it/should be flattered/it’s in their nature to objectify you and say skeevy things!!!)

-Jess

this is horrible; 

That is absolutely fucked..