Our Duty To End The Panic By Joaquin Fernandez Poem by Anonymous Poetic

This hatred didn't start nor end with Matthew. I mean, this defense has been used in the court of law for over 60 years and yes, they don't always end up in favor of the defendant, but that's not what matters. What matters is that OUR LIVES have always been up for debate.
IN 1954
Charles Lawrence had been working up a scheme to hitchhike a ride from a gay man. He then took the man to a remote spot where he would rob and shoot him with a.22 caliber gun
He was charged with first-degree murder, but because of the gay panic defense, it was reduced to manslaughter.
IN 2015
The night started like any other casual evening, with two neighbors getting together to have a few drinks. But the visit took a violent turn. One of the men stabbed the other man twice after an alleged sexual advance. And Daniel Spencer was found dead the next day,
3 years later, the murderer, James Miller, used the defense and it worked. He only got 6 months. In 2018. There is no easy fix to this. And that hurts to say, but until we as a society collectively understand that the fear surrounding queerness is still pervasive, we can't bring about change.