Reader comments from www.advocate.com. (The Advocate Poll).

In the May 14 issue, readers were asked:

Do you think juries today still consider "gay panic" a legitimate offense?

Yes          46%
No           44%
Undecided    10%

Note: Table made from a pie chart.

* "Hell, yes, especially here in Texas, where `real' men are supposed to beat up fags. But there is hope--occasionally an enlightened prosecutor knows how to fight back and force the defendant to admit he didn't really mind the attention (until his friends noticed!)."

* "Intellect and logic are often trumped by fear and bigotry. Bible Belt juries, for example, would have no difficulty accepting `gay panic.' The flaw, of course, is they would fry any gay man who lashed out with `straight panic' at a woman who made a pass at him."

* "`Gay panic' is still an effective defense in less-educated areas of our country. Fortunately, those areas are becoming fewer as we as a society progress. We're not out of the woods yet, but I do believe the tide has turned."

* "As trial after trial has shown, juries frown upon not only the `gay panic' defense but also insanity pleas in general."

* "It's impossible to figure out what 12 diverse people are going to think."