Irresistible Impulse - The History of the Queer Panic Defense in America

I've been a fan of your videos for a while now, but this one being taken off YT is what made me double check you have a patreon. I hope what little support i can give helps some, your work is always top notch

This video made me realize that I want and can support you more, so here I am and very excited. Thank you <3

Kateřina Urbanová

New here from YT too!

I just watched this on YT, and figured it was time I become a patron. Thank you! ❤

Leena Pentti

Just found out that the gay/trans panic defense is still legal here in Canada thanks to your video. I know what I'm going to be talking about this Pride season extensively. Time to get this conversation rolling. <3 your videos, thank you.

Coming from the YT preview, as it finally convinced me to become a Patreon of yours (it was long overdue tbh)! I love your nuanced discussions about queer life and can't imagine how hard it must've been to tackle such a topic. Thank you for everything!

Hello Sunni

Thank you so much for making this.

Katherine Hompes

Thank you for doing this video. I can't imagine it was easy to research, write, film & edit this horror. I appreciate that you paid the price for us

This made me cry so hard. Thank you so much for this video. We need to remember every single one of these victims and fight for those whose names we don't know to be acknowledged. We must demand our legislators protect everyone equally regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation. I met Matthew Shepard once when visiting Wyoming with my family as a child. He seemed like a sweet guy in the few seconds I talked with him. I have multiple friends and family members who are trans. I fear everyday that they will become one of these victims. As a cis queer woman who passes for straight, I know statistically that I'm much less likely to be a victim of these crimes, but I still worry. I'm lucky to live in Colorado where the queer and trans panic defense have been outlawed. While misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia is so prevalent in society, this will remain a problem. We must completely dismantle these systems of oppression if there is to be any change. Queer and trans people deserve better.

Mandi Mateer

Thank you for making this video.

Just saw the preview on Youtube and subbed to watch. As a Straight Cis guy, I've heard of this and sadly have seen it play out in courtrooms, but I know you'll give an in-depth look like you always do with your videos.

mlouden03

This brought up.the memories of my friend RM3 Allen Schindler. I have a lot of self doubt and guilt that I did do all I could have as someone he saw as a senior leader& a Corpsman. I knew hevwas being harassed, he didn't tell me how bad it was. I was the one who told him to get a logbook and document everything. I was mortified that his mother thought his friends in San Diego didn't care, we just didn't know until couple months later. His murders attempted a gay panic defense, but they didn't work.

Thank you, thank you so much for this. There is so much pain in these stories but we cannot forget our queer siblings. Their stories and more importantly their lives matter. May future years be kinder to all of us and that the world never forgets these angels. Thank you again, James. Please rest up and have a relaxing NYE/NYD

Actual jeff bezos

Deep gratitude to you for making this, for the work you did to prepare and refine this no-punches-pulled coverage of a painfully difficult reality! I feel strongly that it needs to be viewed much more widely.

Robert Young

This was a difficult but necessary watch. I always appreciate the care and heart you put into these videos. We need to learn and remember and hold those souls we've lost, precious in our hearts. THank you fr makign this video and all the hard work you do. Sending my best to you rn.

Oh this is gonna be a hard watch... 😥

Michael Thieman Jr

Thank you for making this. I can only imagine how hard it was to make based on how emotional it makes me to watch.

FireMermaid

You're the first creator I've become a patron of, and it's well worth it! Keep up the great work!

I'm 39, and I remember Matthew Shepard's death being the catalyst for staying in the closet far, FAR longer than I should have done. And the truly heartbreaking part is, he was the only name I knew in this video. Thank you for shedding light on these stories, and for presenting the victims as people who lived, not just people who died. It's so important to remember. Be well in this difficult time, James, and take care of yourself. Now more than ever, I'm convinced that we need someone like you.

Curt Clark

Thank you for making this. I can't "like" it. But they are stories that needs to be told and remembered. Too many. It hits hard, and I'm in tears now.

thank you so much james. queer history is so important to learn, even as ahrd as it may be sometimes. im sad as hell but this was just. a wonderfully made video. thank you.