How to ban the LGBTQ Panic Defense:
- Find out who your State Senator is using the find your legislator tool.
- Call the Senate Switchboard between the hours of 8am and 4pm at 515.281.3371 and ask for your Senator.
- Use the following script to leave a message for your State Senator:
Hello [SENATOR NAME] this is [YOUR NAME] and I’m your constituent. Today in this first week of legislative session I wanted to call and ask you to support HF310, a ban on the LGBT panic defense. The panic defense is a legal strategy that asks a jury to find that a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity/expression is to blame for a defendant’s violent reaction, including murder. No one should get away with murder simply because their victim was gay or transgender. The house has already passed HF310 unanimously. Please support this legislation and outlaw this unfair tactic. I would appreciate a call back at [YOUR NUMBER]. Again this is [YOUR NAME] at [YOUR NUMBER] in support of HF310.