Supreme Court overturns Texas Sodomy Law (w00t!)

[Natoma]

http://www.msnbc.com/news/929327.asp?0cv=CA01

In a major victory for gay rights advocates, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a Texas statute that bans gay couples — but not heterosexuals — from engaging in sodomy, ruling that the law was an unconstitutional violation of privacy.

Yay equal protection clause.

 

[Silent_One]

Natoma,
Russ posted this on the other thread....

 

[Dave H]

Well I think it deserves a thread of its own, as well as a .

Incidentally, the rest of us can note that the decision strikes down all anti-sodomy laws, not just those specifically directed against homosexuals. (So, Natoma, the decision was not based on the Equal Protection clause but on the right to privacy...although there is reason to believe that the Court would have used the narrower Equal Protection logic if they had to.)

 

[Natoma]

Natoma,
Russ posted this on the other thread....

I haven't been in that thread since I left my last message actually. But anyways this is different than the marriage ruling in Canada. This has far reaching implications for homosexuals in this country, and is one small step away from equal rights for us.

I threw up my arms when I read it this morning. So happy!

 

[RussSchultz]

While I do not disagree with the outcome, I do wholeheartedly disagree with the "legal" reasoning behind it.

The "right" to privacy, not enumerated in the constitution, has become a juggarnaut in the hands of political judicial advocates and removed any sort of community determination of right and wrong.

At this point, I'll begin demanding my right to grow and smoke pot in the privacy of my own home. Oh wait, that actually sounds reasonable.

 

[K.I.L.E.R]

Is sodomy the thing you do when you are sleeping?
I do that a lot in my room.

 

[RussSchultz]

Is sodomy the thing you do when you are sleeping?
I do that a lot in my room.

errr....I'm just guessing that sleep and sodomy don't mix easily. Nothing would wake me from slumber quicker than somebody attempting to stick something up my bum.

 

[Natoma]

I thought the primary reason it was struck down was because it violated the Equal Protection Clause, i.e. barring homosexuals from engaging in sodomy, but allowing heterosexuals to engage in sodomy. The violation of privacy was the secondary reason.

 

[Natoma]

Is sodomy the thing you do when you are sleeping?
I do that a lot in my room.

errr....I'm just guessing that sleep and sodomy don't mix easily. Nothing would wake me from slumber quicker than somebody attempting to stick something up my bum.

Sodomy is generally defined as sex other than Vaginal. Anal *and* Oral qualify in some states, fyi.

 

[RussSchultz]

I thought the primary reason it was struck down was because it violated the Equal Protection Clause, i.e. barring homosexuals from engaging in sodomy, but allowing heterosexuals to engage in sodomy. The violation of privacy was the secondary reason.

No, 5 of the justices concurred with the majority opinion that there is a fundamental right to privacy. O'Conner only concurred in part, agreeing with the outcome, but not with the reasoning (she believed equal protection would have produced the same outcome).

 

[K.I.L.E.R]

Is sodomy the thing you do when you are sleeping?
I do that a lot in my room.

errr....I'm just guessing that sleep and sodomy don't mix easily. Nothing would wake me from slumber quicker than somebody attempting to stick something up my bum.

Sodomy is generally defined as sex other than Vaginal. Anal *and* Oral qualify in some states, fyi.

Oh. I thought it was about sticking your finger in your anus or something similar.
I was never sure.

 

[RussSchultz]

Err...I don't accidentally do that when I'm sleeping either.

 

[Sabastian]

Is sodomy the thing you do when you are sleeping?
I do that a lot in my room.

errr....I'm just guessing that sleep and sodomy don't mix easily. Nothing would wake me from slumber quicker than somebody attempting to stick something up my bum.

Sodomy is generally defined as sex other than Vaginal. Anal *and* Oral qualify in some states, fyi.

Heh, supposedly after the first hundred or so times things are not as tight down there Russ.... Incontinance is a problem in the long run for people who engage in a lot of sodomy.

http://www.aegis.com/pubs/aidsline/1985/oct/M85A0133.html

Medical problems of the homosexual adolescent.

J Adolesc Health Care. 1985 Jul;6(4):278-85. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/85234089
Owen WF Jr


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract: Physicians treating adolescents should take a complete sexual history, including sexual orientation and practices, to determine whether their patients are homosexually active. Lesbians are at very low risk for sexually transmitted diseases, but they do have other health concerns. Four general groups of conditions may be encountered in homosexually active men: classical sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea, infections with Chlamydia trachomatis, syphilis, herpes simplex infections, genital warts, pubic lice, scabies); enteric diseases (infections with Shigella species, Campylobacter jejuni, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis non-A, non-B, and cytomegalovirus); trauma (fecal incontinence, hemorrhoids, anal fissure, foreign bodies, rectosigmoid tears, allergic proctitis, penile edema, chemical sinusitis, inhaled nitrite burns, and sexual assault of the male patient); and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Clinicians can assist homosexual teenagers by understanding their special health needs, by counseling them about safe sexual practices, and by accepting their relationships nonjudgmentally.

Is beastiality illegal?

sod·om·y ( P ) Pronunciation Key (sd-m)
n.
Any of various forms of sexual intercourse held to be unnatural or abnormal, especially anal intercourse or bestiality.

Sodomy

\Sod"om*y\, n. [From Sodom. a country mentioned in the Bible: cf. F. sodomite.] Carnal copulation in a manner against nature; buggery. --Gen. xix. 5.

Sodomy

n : anal intercourse committed by a man with a man or woman [syn: buggery, anal intercourse]

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Sodomy

 

[K.I.L.E.R]

Err...I don't accidentally do that when I'm sleeping either.

I'm going to contradict myself...

I don't do it either.

 

[Natoma]

Is sodomy the thing you do when you are sleeping?
I do that a lot in my room.

errr....I'm just guessing that sleep and sodomy don't mix easily. Nothing would wake me from slumber quicker than somebody attempting to stick something up my bum.

Sodomy is generally defined as sex other than Vaginal. Anal *and* Oral qualify in some states, fyi.

Heh, supposedly after the first hundred or so times things are not as tight down there Russ.... Incontinance is a problem in the long run for people who engage in a lot of sodomy.

http://www.aegis.com/pubs/aidsline/1985/oct/M85A0133.html

Yes and it was once "scientifically" supported that masturbation caused blindness and hairy palms.

 

[Joe DeFuria]

I agree that the Texas law should have been stuck down. I also agree with Russ...the decision was made on a most unfortunate premise.

 

[Joe DeFuria]

This has far reaching implications for homosexuals in this country, and is one small step away from equal rights for us.

Unfortunately, it has many more far reaching implications in general. That's the problem.

 

[Sabastian]

Sodomy is generally defined as sex other than Vaginal. Anal *and* Oral qualify in some states, fyi.

I also take note that there is a discrepancy between your definition and the one the English dictionary uses. Your definition seems to include any sort of sex outside of vaginal intercourse. In *some* states oral is qualified but it kind of doesn't really fit in with "sex other then vaginal" now does it? Trying to include people whom engage in oral sex as a part of the group discriminated against? Likely. Hrm, how does the state of Texas define buggery?

sod·om·y ( P ) Pronunciation Key (sd-m)
n.
Any of various forms of sexual intercourse held to be unnatural or abnormal, especially anal intercourse or bestiality.

Sodomy

\Sod"om*y\, n. [From Sodom. a country mentioned in the Bible: cf. F. sodomite.] Carnal copulation in a manner against nature; buggery. --Gen. xix. 5.

Sodomy

n : anal intercourse committed by a man with a man or woman [syn: buggery, anal intercourse]

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Sodomy

 

[Sabastian]

Heh, I just had a laugh about something that just struck me.. Beastiality is legalized in Texas for homosexuals, but not hetrosexuals.

 

[Natoma]

Actually if you want the complete definition, courtesy of www.webster.com:

Sodomy:

1: copulation with a member of the same sex or with an animal

2: noncoital and especially anal or oral copulation with a member of the opposite sex

Well I guess I'm not trying to include "other" people at all.

So yes, non-vaginal sex is indeed sodomy.