Texas Republicans Stall On Repealing Anti-Sodomy Statute

'Homosexual Conduct' STILL Listed As Criminal Offense In Texas Penal Code

Eight years after the Supreme Court deemed Texas' anti-sodomy statute unconstitutional, the state's penal code still lists "homosexual conduct" as a criminal offense--and Republican lawmakers are fighting to keep it that way.

A pair of identical bills that have been introduced in the Texas House would delete language from the state penal code making "deviate sexual intercourse with another individual of the same sex" a misdemeanor offense. Under the proposals, a clause in the state's health and safety code that cites the criminal statute and states that homosexuality is "not an acceptable lifestyle" would also be repealed.

That is, if the legislature's Republican supermajority ever lets the bills come to a vote.

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