# 119-s-2201: LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2025

119-s-2201, LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA); status introduced (as of 2026-10-15).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2201
- As of: 2026-10-15
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2201
- Congress: 119
- Title: LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-06-27
- Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA)
- Cosponsors: 14
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-15

## Summary

**Bans panic defenses based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.** This bill would bar defendants in federal criminal cases from using a claim that a nonviolent sexual advance or a belief about a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity excuses or reduces their criminal conduct. It allows a limited exception for courts to admit prior trauma evidence under the Federal Rules of Evidence. The Attorney General would also send Congress an annual report on federal prosecutions of crimes motivated by a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. - LGBTQ people and crime victims: Stops a defense that shifts blame onto victims and aims to reduce offender responsibility. It seeks to treat bias-motivated crimes more consistently. - Defendants and defense lawyers: Restricts a specific defense strategy but preserves the ability to introduce prior trauma evidence under existing evidence rules. - Federal courts and prosecutors: Changes what arguments and evidence may be used in federal trials and requires new annual reporting by the Department of Justice.

## Cosponsors (14)

- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (I-VT), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] (D-WI), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Ban panic defenses in federal court: benefit, medium. If enacted, federal criminal defendants could not use a "panic" defense that blames a nonviolent sexual advance or a belief about someone's gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation to excuse or reduce criminal conduct. Courts could still allow evidence of a defendant's prio…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act
- 119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act

## Sources
- [119-s-2201 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2201)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2763)
- [119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3869)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2201 (as of 2026-10-15).