Two Democratic lawmakers are pressing for legislation that crack down on the use of so-called "gay panic" and "trans panic" defenses in federal court. The Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2018 was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and in the House by Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass.). The measure seeks to curtail the use of a controversial legal defense aimed at reducing penalties for people who claim that they committed violent crimes against gay or transgender people, because of the person's sexuality or gender identity caused them to "panic." "Sexual orientation or gender identity...