This could occur when someone is experiencing intense emotions around a queer crush, LGBTQ+ culture, attractive celebrities, or other queer subjects. Online, queer people use “gay panic” to refer to their own feelings of panic related to their sexuality. However, the term “gay panic” has taken on an entirely new meaning in internet culture slang. The term “LGBTQ+ panic defense,” also known as “gay panic defense” refers to a legal strategy for defendants accused of enacting violence and committing hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people.
