Federal defendants would face limits on excuses involving gender or sexuality

Federal defendants would be barred from using certain reasons to excuse crimes or reduce their severity. The ban would cover nonviolent sexual advances and beliefs about someone’s gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation, even if those beliefs are wrong. Courts could still admit evidence of a defendant’s prior trauma to excuse conduct or reduce an offense’s severity, following federal evidence rules.

The Attorney General would report to Congress on certain federal prosecutions involving LGBTQ victims. Reports would cover crimes motivated by the victim’s gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation, including crimes that can carry the death penalty. The Attorney General would submit a report each year.