Much of the opposition to the bill was due to concerns by lawmakers about restricting the types of defenses that defendants may employ in court, or the belief that Virginia courts would outright reject a “panic” defense, thereby making the bill unnecessary.
Sen. Joseph Morrissey (I-Richmond), an independent who typically caucuses with Democrats, said lawmakers would be going “down a very slippery slope” if they began limiting the types of defenses a defendant could employ, reports NBC affiliate WVIR.
But Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond) said that lawmakers have previously repealed defenses that people found abhorrent, and noted instances in which courts in the commonwealth have previously accepted the “panic” defense as legitimate.
By a vote of 224 to 206, the House passed the landmark Equality Act, which amends the 1964 Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes.
LGBTQ Americans inch closer to 'freedom' as House passes Equality Act japantimes.co.jp - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from japantimes.co.jp Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
LGBT+ Americans inch closer to 'freedom' as House passes Equality Act bworldonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bworldonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.