It's still illegal to be gay in Texas in 2016. A lawmaker wants to end that

[TexasTowelie]

A graphic of the state showing the percentage of LGBT people in each state. Gallup estimated in 2012 that about a half-million Texans identified as gay or homosexual. A Texas lawmaker hopes to eliminate that language from the state's criminal code starting in January.

Every day in Texas, more than an estimated half-million people are breaking a law that's on the books, but unenforceable.

It's technically illegal to be gay in Texas.

The law, passed in 1974, makes homosexual conduct a class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.

The law has been unenforceable since 2003, when the U.S. Supreme Court declared a ban on sodomy unconstitutional in a case called Lawrence v. Texas. The decision rendered unconstitutional the section of the criminal law to enforce that provision, which states, "A person commits an offense if he engages in deviate sexual intercourse with another individual of the same sex." But, the language remains on the books today.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/It-s-still-illegal-to-be-gay-in-Texas-in-2016-A-10779941.php

Cross-posted in the LGBT Group.

[msongs]

1. the trump congress will attempt to make it illegal in every state. because...jesus nt

[Ilsa]

3. Not because of Jesus. Because it's another control mechanism.

Trump doesn't know who Jesus is. But he likes being in control of everything and he likes being popular with other controllers who can do things for him. He has no soul.

[Xipe Totec]

2. It's also still illegal to spit on the boardwalks, or to carry pliers in your back pocket

But all in all, if we're going to eliminate obsolete laws in the books, I think getting rid of the one that criminalizes being gay should be the highest priority.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. And why do I think that map is seriously wrong?

I really doubt those who are actually LGBT varies that much from state to state.

Those who are willing to identify as such, that I get.

Says the boringly heterosexual Poindexter.

As a complete aside, I wonder how many LGBT people are living in total denial. The other night I had dinner with a friend and a man who to me is so obviously gay as to be having a neon sign over his head. As the friend cautioned me, he's not only not out, he's not even out to himself. My thought is, how sad. Life is tough enough for all of us, but to be in complete denial as to your sexuality/orientation strikes me as beyond sad. Just my take.