Sodomy laws repealed in Massachusetts
February 22, 2002 7:55 AM Subscribe
Sodomy laws repealed in Massachusetts Equal laws no matter what 'things' you're doing? The sky is going to fall? You decide.
Time to cruise the Fens!!!
I would imagine that indecent exposure and lewd conduct laws still apply, yes?
posted by solistrato at 8:02 AM on February 22, 2002
I would imagine that indecent exposure and lewd conduct laws still apply, yes?
posted by solistrato at 8:02 AM on February 22, 2002
Georgia's high court did this in 1998, meaning the decidedly more traditionally liberal Massachusetts is kinda behind the times. And this is only a partial repeal!
posted by raysmj at 8:06 AM on February 22, 2002
posted by raysmj at 8:06 AM on February 22, 2002
Not to disrespect Georgia, but the missionary position was considered sodomy in that state. Mass, like most of N.England, has had blue laws for years...in these states they did not know there was anything but the missionary position. Progress?
posted by Postroad at 8:12 AM on February 22, 2002
posted by Postroad at 8:12 AM on February 22, 2002
"acts of sodomy are legal as long as they are done in private or out of public view."
I think they law is that yes lewd acts are illegal, but the cops can't go in searching in 'private' or 'out of public view' spots.
posted by LinemanBear at 8:14 AM on February 22, 2002
I think they law is that yes lewd acts are illegal, but the cops can't go in searching in 'private' or 'out of public view' spots.
posted by LinemanBear at 8:14 AM on February 22, 2002
Sodomy is one of those words that has more than one definition, like indecent exposure, depending on what we're looking to make illegal. Remember, if it's fun, it's likely to be illegal somewhere.
posted by tommasz at 8:16 AM on February 22, 2002
posted by tommasz at 8:16 AM on February 22, 2002
Postroad: Oh, I think you could consider that disrespect.
posted by raysmj at 8:31 AM on February 22, 2002
posted by raysmj at 8:31 AM on February 22, 2002
Who's up for a roadtrip to UMass for some sodomy?
Sorry, got plans for the weekend, but could you bring some back for me?
posted by ColdChef at 8:37 AM on February 22, 2002
Sorry, got plans for the weekend, but could you bring some back for me?
posted by ColdChef at 8:37 AM on February 22, 2002
Gee, all we have to do now is figure out how to buy beer on Sunday....
posted by jalexei at 8:39 AM on February 22, 2002
posted by jalexei at 8:39 AM on February 22, 2002
Personally, I'm just amazed that a phrase like "the abominable and detestable crime against nature" actually has a legal definition.
Jalexei: we drive to Vermont, like everybody else.
posted by ook at 8:41 AM on February 22, 2002
Jalexei: we drive to Vermont, like everybody else.
posted by ook at 8:41 AM on February 22, 2002
Who's up for a roadtrip to UMass for some sodomy?
Can't . . . stop . . . self . . . from . . . quoting . . . lyrics!
In the sleepy west of the woody east
is a valley full, full o' pioneer
we're not just kids, to say the least
we got ideas to us that's dear
like capitalist, like communist
like lots of things you've heard about
and redneckers they get us pissed
and stupid stuff it makes us shout
oh dance with me oh don't be shy
oh kiss me cunt and kiss me cock
oh kiss the world oh kiss the sky
oh kiss my ass oh let it rock
of the april birds and the may bee
oh baby
university
of massachusetts, please
and here's the last five
it's educational
it's educational
it's educational
it's educational
it's educational.
posted by Skot at 8:46 AM on February 22, 2002
Can't . . . stop . . . self . . . from . . . quoting . . . lyrics!
In the sleepy west of the woody east
is a valley full, full o' pioneer
we're not just kids, to say the least
we got ideas to us that's dear
like capitalist, like communist
like lots of things you've heard about
and redneckers they get us pissed
and stupid stuff it makes us shout
oh dance with me oh don't be shy
oh kiss me cunt and kiss me cock
oh kiss the world oh kiss the sky
oh kiss my ass oh let it rock
of the april birds and the may bee
oh baby
university
of massachusetts, please
and here's the last five
it's educational
it's educational
it's educational
it's educational
it's educational.
posted by Skot at 8:46 AM on February 22, 2002
I try not to take any chances when I travel and leave my sex strictly with animals...and least they don't sue or have headaches. or get pregnant or have to be wined and dined.
posted by Postroad at 8:47 AM on February 22, 2002
posted by Postroad at 8:47 AM on February 22, 2002
could you bring some back for me?
Sorry, my friend, but I'm strictly take-out. No delivery :)
posted by UncleFes at 9:08 AM on February 22, 2002
Sorry, my friend, but I'm strictly take-out. No delivery :)
posted by UncleFes at 9:08 AM on February 22, 2002
I am from MASS. THANK YOU TED KENNEDY!!!
This won't change anyone's behavior, it will introduce a lot of previously dangerous slang. "Yeah she was pretty wasted and I basically threw her down and sodomized her - she was all, what's up?"
BTW I seem to recall the definition of sodomy is essentially anything you do with column A (mouth, ass, hands, etc) having anything to do with column B (sexual organs) on any scale (one person two people three etc.) There will be rampant onanism across this great state! From the shit heaps of worcester and lynn to the tasteless decadence of Acton, to the industrial charm of Maynard and Lowell to the unique dignity of the statehouse and Beacon Hill.
And at all hours one can hear someone chanting, sometimes near, sometimes far, sometimes alone, sometimes not, the slogan which will identify us now, on the edge of forever, and beyond:
ANAL! BJ'S!! NOMAAAAHAHHHHHHH!!!!
posted by Settle at 9:41 AM on February 22, 2002
This won't change anyone's behavior, it will introduce a lot of previously dangerous slang. "Yeah she was pretty wasted and I basically threw her down and sodomized her - she was all, what's up?"
BTW I seem to recall the definition of sodomy is essentially anything you do with column A (mouth, ass, hands, etc) having anything to do with column B (sexual organs) on any scale (one person two people three etc.) There will be rampant onanism across this great state! From the shit heaps of worcester and lynn to the tasteless decadence of Acton, to the industrial charm of Maynard and Lowell to the unique dignity of the statehouse and Beacon Hill.
And at all hours one can hear someone chanting, sometimes near, sometimes far, sometimes alone, sometimes not, the slogan which will identify us now, on the edge of forever, and beyond:
ANAL! BJ'S!! NOMAAAAHAHHHHHHH!!!!
posted by Settle at 9:41 AM on February 22, 2002
Oh: you don't need to go to Vermont. Just remember to always buy twice as much as you could possibly drink. That way when Sunday rolls around, and you somehow managed to drink your weight in pisswater beer, you'll be passed out until Saturday morning. I wake up just in time for Spongebob Squarepants!
posted by Settle at 9:44 AM on February 22, 2002
posted by Settle at 9:44 AM on February 22, 2002
They must be dancing (er...or something) in the streets out in p-town!
posted by plaino at 10:07 AM on February 22, 2002
posted by plaino at 10:07 AM on February 22, 2002
Sorry, my friend, but I'm strictly take-out. No delivery :)
I call those "bottom" and "top," Fes.
posted by rodii at 10:13 AM on February 22, 2002
I call those "bottom" and "top," Fes.
posted by rodii at 10:13 AM on February 22, 2002
Hey, I am from Mass, too — Acton, to be precise. "Tasteless decadence?" Puhleeze.
But yeah, Worcester and Lynn are shitholes. (Heh.)
posted by nstop at 10:13 AM on February 22, 2002
But yeah, Worcester and Lynn are shitholes. (Heh.)
posted by nstop at 10:13 AM on February 22, 2002
Fifteen states to go. Which will be next? MA was the only liberal reputation state with sodomy laws. Which will be last? Plenty of hardcore cases among the remaining fifteen. When will the last state-level repeal occur? Or is the US going to (ahem) hell in a handbasket at the hands of the xtian right, resulting in more sodomy laws being enacted rather than repealed?
posted by mlinksva at 11:02 AM on February 22, 2002
posted by mlinksva at 11:02 AM on February 22, 2002
Growing up in Kansas City on the Kansas side, my friends and I would just drive across the state line for sodomy. I mean, for beer on Sundays.
posted by bingo at 11:26 AM on February 22, 2002
posted by bingo at 11:26 AM on February 22, 2002
Minnesota, allegedly liberal, was freed from its sodomy law last year only because the courts struck it down. (See link in last post for a good list of links to news articles.) People elsewhere may think of Minnesota as a "blue state", but in fact our State House is run by wacko children-of-the-corn extremist Republicans, who not only would never repeal the law, but filed official complaints against DFL Attorney General Mike Hatch for not appealing the court decision to strike down the law. (DFL = Democrat for non-Minnesotans.)
posted by gimonca at 11:30 AM on February 22, 2002
posted by gimonca at 11:30 AM on February 22, 2002
Oh, and to put the Mass. law in historical perspective:
posted by gimonca at 11:31 AM on February 22, 2002
1692: Salem Witch Trials
1697: Mass. sodomy law enacted
posted by gimonca at 11:31 AM on February 22, 2002
2002: Religious zealots still on witchhunts for sodomites
posted by yesster at 12:05 PM on February 22, 2002
posted by yesster at 12:05 PM on February 22, 2002
Just for the sake of correctness: the laws were not repealed, but the court imposed limits on enforcement.
posted by beagle at 1:58 PM on February 22, 2002
posted by beagle at 1:58 PM on February 22, 2002
Personally, I'm just amazed that a phrase like "the abominable and detestable crime against nature" actually has a legal definition.
Sounds to me like a law against Britney Spears, FOX TV, and Microsoft. Especially Windows Me. Windows me is the most abominable, destable crime against nature.
posted by dagnyscott at 8:37 PM on February 22, 2002
Sounds to me like a law against Britney Spears, FOX TV, and Microsoft. Especially Windows Me. Windows me is the most abominable, destable crime against nature.
posted by dagnyscott at 8:37 PM on February 22, 2002
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posted by Harry Hopkins' Hat at 7:59 AM on February 22, 2002