Committee Passes Proposal to Repeal Louisiana Sodomy Law
The
Advocate, May 29, 2003
Louisiana’s 19th-century sodomy law, the subject of
past unsuccessful court and legislative challenges, is a step closer to being
struck down after a senate committee hearing on Tuesday. A measure to repeal
the law, sponsored by Sen. Lynn Dean (R-Braithwaite), would legalize private,
consensual sex that has otherwise been deemed illegal—what the current law
calls a “crime against nature.” Two years ago a similar bill was defeated
in the house of representatives after making it through committee. Last fall a
state appeals court upheld the 197-year-old law.
Tuesday’s bill survived critical testimony from
conservative activists—and may even have been helped by it. Sen. Paulette
Irons (D-New Orleans) was attacked by one of the witnesses, Pat Harris of New
Orleans, for supporting a “gay rights platform.” Harris refused to
identify herself further after the meeting. Her observation provoked a furious
rebuttal from Irons and the announcement from Sen. Greg Tarver (D-Shreveport)
that he would vote for the bill because a fellow senator had been attacked.
“During my duration here in the legislature, I’ve always voted against
these laws,” Tarver said. “You attacked a legislator, and I’m going to
vote to move this out of committee.”
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