Virginia May Lighten Sodomy Restrictions
Advocate,
Wednesday, February 16, 2000
A Virginia house of delegates committee on Sunday endorsed a proposal that would make
oral sex between consenting adults a misdemeanor rather than a felony, The Washington Post
reports. The proposal will now go to the full house. Democratic delegate L. Karen Darner
says she has tried several times to repeal the current law, which makes oral sex
punishable by up to five years in prison and a loss of voting rights. If the proposal is
passed, those convicted of violating the oral sex ban will face a fine of up to $250.
"My feeling is, I would still like to have [oral sex] decriminalized, but this is at
least a recognition that the current law is outrageous," Darner said. The Virginia
court of appeals agreed in December to review the constitutionality of the state’s
sodomy law.
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