Is this the year of the gay?

[Thorn]

Nope no animals... they fall under the no ability to consent to sexual intercourse category.... (much like children)...

[Cruddy]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
Why Scalia's argument is ****:

"Many Americans do not want persons who openly engage in homosexual conduct as partners in their business, as scoutmasters for their children, as teachers in their children's schools, or as boarders in their home. They view this as protecting themselves and their families from a lifestyle that they believe to be immoral and destructive."

Tell me, considering the men in the case were arrested for having sex in the privacy of their own home, how that could possibly be considered "open"?

The last time I looked, gay business partners, scout masters or teachers weren't throwing their lovers over a chair in a public place and screwing them silly for all to see. I'd think I'd be aware of such behavior!

Scalia's argument is crap because the case wasn't dealing with open behavior, but private, consentual acts of sex. If he claims that states have a right to enact laws which target people who merely are perceived or known to be homosexual (which is what openly homosexual means), then he's got definite problems.

You are quite right Boris. That is the shaky part of his argument, because while it implies most straights are worried about gay sex in public places, it actually states that things like holding hands in public, hugging and kissing are to be considered illegal - or at least disturbing behaviour.

I appreciate that most gays - in fact, the vast majority of people of every orientation - are not into public sex, are modest, consider it a private moment, etc etc.

The sad fact is, I am not most straight people. Most straight people avoid gays like the plague because the very idea of gay sex is naueating to them.

I have qualms about it - but when I get propositioned by a gay, I don't treat it as an attack and respond accordingly. I tell them no, thank you, and walk away.

Certainly a lot of adult straight males aren't like that and see gays as a threat. Which is where this bastard powermonger gets his argument from.

[Uncle Sparky]

...whoever they want !

...not "whatever they want !"

Anal sex (sodomy) between consenting adults is now allowed. The way the laws were writen heterosexual adults could he found guilty of homosexual acts.

[Thorn]

The sodomy laws apply to oral sex as well If I recalll?

[Uncle Sparky]

In some states, yes. Siegfried and Roy can now perform anywhere !

[Thorn]

Yeah definately in my State... well we have a lot less felons serving 5-7 for sex acts now....

I think it was Kansas or Idaho... had a lifetime imprissionment sentance for sodomy... they just sentenced some 17 year old kid a few months ago to lif for that.... does this mean his sentance is overturned?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Of course it's true. But it doesn't mean that their prejudices should become law.

It depends on how much democracy you think should occur. People who are very pro-democracy might say that it may be distasteful but the majority want it.

As for the open/private distinction, come on! Scalia was explaining why these laws exist. Why legislators write and create those laws. For example if someone says people are against those who openly engage in Polygamy, do you really think that if they do it in the privacy of their own home that people aren't going to think of it as 'openly' polygamous? Really! If you don't realize the similiarities, then YOU have got problems .

[Sava]

When I think of "openly" I get X-rated visions. Because that's what openly is. Unfortunately for Scalia and his bigotted following, gay people aren't having sex on the streets. That's what "openly" engaging in homosexual acts is.

I'm just upset that the Dark Ages never ended. We're still knee deep in regressive bigotry and hatred. It's infected our government and is holding us hostage. The only difference is, we don't openly burn people at the stake anymore. We lock them up for a lifetime while most moral Americans foot the bill.