Michigan
Michigan becomes 20th state to outlaw ‘gay panic’ defense
LANSING, MI – Michigan is now the 20th state in the U.S. to outlaw legal arguments that someone’s sexual orientation justified assaulting them.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law the bill on Tuesday, July 23, banning the defense commonly referred to as “gay panic” or “LGBTQ+ panic.”
Under the new law, which goes into effect Oct. 23, a person charged with a violent crime can’t seek to reduce or evade criminal liability on claims that they lost control and reacted violently because of the victim’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
“I have been incredibly passionate about this bill for several years, and I am elated to see it signed into law. Protecting the future of LGBTQ+ people across Michigan is something I have been working hard to do,” said the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia.
“This bill, alongside many other monumental pieces of legislation brought forth by Michigan Democrats, is a huge step toward securing a safe and inclusive state for all Michiganders.”
The bill was sent to the governor after passing along party lines June 27 in the state House, with Republicans voting against the bill. In the state Senate, Republican Sens. Mark Huizenga, Dan Lauwers, Jonathan Lindsey and Ed McBroom joined with Democrats on approving the bill.
Michigan set to become 20th state outlawing ‘gay panic’ defense
According to the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, Michigan is the 20th state to ban the gay panic defense.
Michigan has had at least four cases between 1970 and 2020 where a murder defendant used the gay panic defense, according to a 2020 study by W. Cartsen Andresen, a professor at St. Edward’s University in Texas.
The National LGBTQ+ Bar Association said that it has tracked dozens of cases across the U.S. where juries have acquitted defendants due to the LGBTQ+ panic defense strategy. The crimes in those cases ranged from assault to murder.
Under Michigan’s new law, a person is not justified in using force against another person based on the discovery or knowledge of the victim’s sex, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation.
That discovery or knowledge also is not permitted as evidence to demonstrate reasonable provocation, to show that an act was committed in the heat of passion or to support a defense of reduced mental capacity.
Victims’ sexuality can be used to justify crimes. Legislation could stop it.
One of the most infamous cases of the use of the defense was the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming. Shepard, 21, was driven to a remote area by two men who then brutally beat him, tied him to a fence and left him to die.
Lawyers defending one of Shepard’s killers argued his client was partly triggered by an unwanted sexual advance by Shepard and previous traumatic experiences with LGBTQ+ people. The judge did not allow the defense.
Michigan
Michigan Football S Jordan Young enters transfer portal
Announced on Tuesday evening, Michigan true freshman safety Jordan Young has entered the transfer portal.
A former four-star prospect from Monroe, North Carolina, Young flipped his commitment at the last moment from Clemson to Michigan in the 2025 class. He played in nine games this season for the Wolverines and had 15 tackles and three pass breakups, with all three pass breakups coming in the final four games of the season.
We wish Young the very best at his next college football program.
Michigan
Tom Izzo angry at former Michigan State star for courtside ejection
EAST LANSING – Michigan State was rolling to a win against USC when there was a stoppage in play with six minutes remaining in the second half on Monday night.
It had nothing to do with what was happening on the court at the Breslin Center.
Referee Jeffrey Anderson blew his whistle to eject a fan sitting a few rows off the floor. The individual booted happened to be Paul Davis, who starred at center for the Spartans from 2002-06.
“He kind of got after the official and he was 150 percent wrong,” Izzo said of Davis after the No. 12 Spartans (13-2, 3-1 Big Ten) won 80-51 against the Trojans on Monday, “and for a guy like me to 150 percent agree with the official, it’s almost illegal.”
Michigan State fans were upset about a foul call on the other end of the floor when Davis stood up and said something Anderson immediately objected to. That led to a hook.
Despite being tossed, Davis attempted to stay in his seat while taking a drink from an alcoholic beverage container. Anderson didn’t let it slide and provided an explanation to Izzo, who was less than thrilled and yelled across the court questioning what his former player was doing.
Davis finally stood up after being told to leave by associate athletic director Seth Kesler but took his time and brushed two hands against his chest. That prompted Izzo to scream, appearing to tell his former center to “get outta here.” Davis was walked up the stairs and watched the rest of the game from a concourse box.
“I love Paul Davis, I really do, he’s one of my favorite guys … but what he said he should never say anywhere in the world and that ticked me off,” Izzo said. “Just because it’s 25, 20 years later, I’m going to have to call him tomorrow and tell him what I thought of it. You know what he’ll say, ‘I screwed up, coach, I’m sorry.’”
Izzo claimed he was told what Davis said was nothing racial or sexual in nature but it was obviously enough to get the boot.
“It was just the wrong thing to say,” Izzo said, “and I’ll leave it at that.”
Davis ranks 10th on Michigan State’s career scoring list with 1,718 points, was a second-round NBA pick by the Clippers and spent four years in the league. Izzo praised the work Davis does with current players but the Hall of Fame coach in his 31st season leading the Spartans has never been ejected from a game.
“He made a mistake but he’s been really good with our players too,” Izzo said of Davis. “In the summer he comes up and helps work a guy out or he’s just around. Jud Heathcote used to always tell me sooner or later the game makes fools of us all. Once in a while, the game makes fools of our fans and definitely it’s made a fool of me more than a couple times.”
Michigan
Former Michigan star RB promoted to Eastern Michigan assistant head coach
Former Michigan running back and assistant coach Mike Hart is getting a promotion on Chris Creighton’s staff at Eastern Michigan.
The school announced Monday that Hart is being elevated to assistant head coach and will oversee the receivers in 2026. Michigan’s all-time leading rusher spent last season as an offensive analyst for the Eagles.
“Coach Hart is a winner,” Creighton said in a news release. “He has the ‘It’ factor. He selflessly helped us this year as an offensive analyst and made a positive impact. We know that he will be a major addition as assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.”
Hart has 14 years of college coaching experience, including a three-year stint as Michigan’s running backs coach from 2021-23. He served as interim head coach for one game during the Wolverines’ 2023 national championship season when Jim Harbaugh was suspended.
Under Hart, Michigan’s running backs thrived. Blake Corum rushed for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons and was a third-round pick by the Rams in 2024. The Wolverines won the Big Ten all three years Hart was on staff, but they did not renew his contract after the 2023 campaign.
The 39-year-old began his coaching career at EMU in 2011 and also has had stints at Western Michigan (2014-15), Syracuse (2016) and Indiana (2017-2020).
As a player at Michigan, Hart was a two-time Doak Walker Award finalist and finished fifth in the 2006 Heisman Trophy voting. Last season, EMU finished 4-8 but was No. 2 in the Mid-American Conference in passing yards per game.
“I am excited to be a part of Eastern Michigan football,” Hart said in a release. “Coach Creighton is one of the best leaders of men I have ever been around, and I look forward to learning and being a part of his program. EMU football and the Ypsilanti community have always held a special place in my heart, and I am excited to help the team reach our goals for the 2026 season.”
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