{"data":{"id":"us-va/va.-code-18.2-57.5","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"Va. Code § 18.2-57.5","heading":"Certain matters not to constitute defenses","body":"A. Another person's actual or perceived sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation is not in and of itself, or together with an oral solicitation, a defense to any charge brought under this article.B. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a defendant from exercising his constitutionally protected rights, including his right to call for evidence in his favor that is relevant and otherwise admissible in a criminal prosecution.2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 460.","path":["Title 18.2. Crimes and Offenses Generally","Chapter 4. Crimes Against the Person","Article 4. Assaults and Bodily Woundings"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/18.2-57.5/","current_through":"9/4/2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:14:34Z","sha256":"786889063edb3f3de4449f37abf20b27f9741eed367a9937129d8fe7a67560d9","source_id":"us-va","stale":true,"prev":"us-va/va.-code-18.2-57.4","next":"us-va/va.-code-18.2-58"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}