Utah Legalizes Sex Outside Marriage After Governor Signs Bill Rolling Back 1973 'Fornication' Law

[Eugene]

Source: TIME

Utah Legalizes Sex Outside Marriage After Governor Signs Bill Rolling Back 1973 'Fornication' Law

BY MAHITA GAJANAN
11:41 AM EDT

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has signed a bill that decriminalizes sex outside of marriage in the state.

Herbert signed Senate Bill 43 into law on Wednesday, the governor’s office confirmed to TIME.

“Fornication,” which is sex outside of marriage, was classified as a class B misdemeanor and punishable by up to six months in jail, according to a 1973 Utah state law.

The bill includes a repeal of the offense of fornication and was sponsored by state Senate Minority Leader Karen Mayne. The bill amends other terms in the criminal code legislation, including penalties and offenses related to clandestine drug labs, electronic communications harassment and the return of a marriage license to a county clerk.

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Read more: http://time.com/5561152/utah-governor-gary-herbert-fornication-bill/

[niyad]

1. I wish this were the Onion.

[Yavin4]

2. Welcome to the 20th Century, Utah! n/t

[walkingman]

3. Momma don't let your kids go to Utah. They are living in the 15th Century.

[DavidDvorkin]

4. This must be a huge relief to all those Utahns who've been holding off since 1973.