Committee Hears Bill to Remove Law Against Same-Gender Sex
MSNBC,
February 6, 1999
HELENA The Montana Supreme Court has struck down a law banning
homosexual sex. Now a Billings lawmaker says it’s time to take the law off the books.
Democrat Joan Hurdle is the sponsor of House Bill 449, which was introduced today to
the House Judiciary Committee.
The Legislature has rejected similar bills in the past. But this time Hurdle has the
state’s high court to back her up.
The Montana Supreme Court ruled in 1997 that prohibiting sex between consenting adults
violates the constitutional right to privacy.
Opponents urged the committee not to heed the Supreme Court’s ruling, and to keep
the law on the books.
Bozeman resident Steve White told the committee he fears that removing the law, would
encourage more gay men and lesbians to move to Montana.
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