Final answer:
Historically, LGBTQ individuals faced many legal challenges and were less protected, with issues like violence and discrimination. Some states, beginning with California, have made strides to prevent these issues by outlawing defense claims such as "gay panic." Today's legal standards are gradually improving towards equality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether same-sex victims receive fewer legal protections is complex and historically contingent. Historically, LGBTQ individuals have faced significant challenges and discrimination under the law, including being vulnerable to violence and extortion. LGBTQ people were unlikely to file charges due to fear of exposure or repercussions, and defenses such as "gay panic" or "trans panic" resulted in the justification of violence against them until some states began to ban these defenses, starting with California in 2006. Additionally, same-sex partners have suffered from the denial of benefits, threat of deportation, and loss of children in custody battles, showing a pattern where their rights were frequently unrecognized or invalidated. Given this context, the statement that same-sex victims receive fewer legal protections has historical backing, though contemporary legal standards have increasingly moved towards preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.