You Have No Legal Right to Sex, and Never Had

By on February 4, 2011 in News 18
François-Rolland Elluin, Gli abitanti di Sodoma provocano l'ira divina. (1789).

François-Rolland Elluin, Gli abitanti di Sodoma provocano l'ira divina. (1789).

Really interesting article from Paul R. Abramson and L.J. Williamson in LA Weekly:

In fact, in case you haven’t heard, Texas Republicans want sodomy to be a crime again. Last June, the Texas Republican Party embraced a political platform that opposed the legalization of sodomy.

To be clear, sodomy law refers to either oral or anal sex. It would be a bleak day if Congress made the eradication of the backdoor and the blow job a priority over war, economic upheaval and environmental disasters, but that’s beside the point. The bigger question is, does sex, sodomy included, warrant constitutional protection?

The answer is no. You have only a “right to privacy,” and in 1965, when that right first came into being, anyone who wasn’t married missed the boat. Privacy rights are more inclusive now, but they’re still only tangential to sex; they’re more akin to a cone of silence than an affirmative right to sexual activity.

Read More in LA Weekly

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  • justagirl

    the law includes a “figurative anal clause” to cover their bases.

  • justagirl

    the law includes a “figurative anal clause” to cover their bases.

  • justagirl

    the law includes a “figurative anal clause” to cover their bases.

  • Rufus

    What about fisting and tossing salad? Or will those issues be covered by a separate law? What about going down on yourself? Would that be a felony or misdemeanor?

  • Rufus

    What about fisting and tossing salad? Or will those issues be covered by a separate law? What about going down on yourself? Would that be a felony or misdemeanor?

  • Hadrian999

    so this is the “less government regulation” the tea party was talking about

  • Hadrian999

    so this is the “less government regulation” the tea party was talking about

  • http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi

    I’m not sure bringing back sodomy laws is a good idea…after what Dems and Reps alike have done to this country for the last few decades, legalizing ass-fucking was like a retroactive reprieve for their conduct.

  • http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi

    I’m not sure bringing back sodomy laws is a good idea…after what Dems and Reps alike have done to this country for the last few decades, legalizing ass-fucking was like a retroactive reprieve for their conduct.

  • http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi

    I’m not sure bringing back sodomy laws is a good idea…after what Dems and Reps alike have done to this country for the last few decades, legalizing ass-fucking was like a retroactive reprieve for their conduct.

  • Adamsshadow

    Seriously, any person, male or female, who has a problem with giving or receiving oral sex is living a sad, sad life. And I highly doubt these legislators have really thought this one through: because reg’lar ol’ intercourse with a prostitute usually doesn’t cut it for most politicians; they’re always getting busted for the most “deviant” shit, like getting head from one hooker while the other girl is shoving a dildo up their ass, all whilst dressed in clown attire. LBJ is turning over in his grave right now. Using his penis.

  • Adamsshadow

    Seriously, any person, male or female, who has a problem with giving or receiving oral sex is living a sad, sad life. And I highly doubt these legislators have really thought this one through: because reg’lar ol’ intercourse with a prostitute usually doesn’t cut it for most politicians; they’re always getting busted for the most “deviant” shit, like getting head from one hooker while the other girl is shoving a dildo up their ass, all whilst dressed in clown attire. LBJ is turning over in his grave right now. Using his penis.

  • StillAtMyMoms

    Economic turmoil? Corporate malfeasance? The pervasive military-industrial complex? Bank bailouts? And they’re talking about butt sex? Talk about some subtle double entendre.

  • Anonymous

    Economic turmoil? Corporate malfeasance? The pervasive military-industrial complex? Bank bailouts? And they’re talking about butt sex?

  • David Frost

    Republicans are such attention craving publicity whores that would do anything to get on TV.

  • David Frost

    Republicans are such attention craving publicity whores that would do anything to get on TV.

  • Jordan

    I dare pose the question: Why only sodomy? Is that because the ass or the mouth cannot be used to procreate? And if so, I ask, really? This argument? Pleasure is a sin, feel shameful, blah blah…. Or is this the Subliminal Message to Gay Men Across America law? “You want ass sex and blowjobs? Good, you’ll get plenty of that in prison.” This is redundant and unimaginative. Not to mention my _favorite_ part of this legislation is that this is virtually impossible to enforce.

  • Jordan

    I dare pose the question: Why only sodomy? Is that because the ass or the mouth cannot be used to procreate? And if so, I ask, really? This argument? Pleasure is a sin, feel shameful, blah blah…. Or is this the Subliminal Message to Gay Men Across America law? “You want ass sex and blowjobs? Good, you’ll get plenty of that in prison.” This is redundant and unimaginative. Not to mention my _favorite_ part of this legislation is that this is virtually impossible to enforce.