Court
Invalidates Kansas Law; Reaction Mixed
Topeka
Capital-Journal , June 26, 2003
616 SE Jefferson Street, Topeka, KS 66607
Fax: 785-295-1230, Email: letters@cjnetworks.com
By Cait Purinton, The Capital-Journal
Gay, lesbian and transgender activists in Kansas are
celebrating a decision made today by the U.S. Supreme Court that reverses
legal bans on homosexual sex.
The 6-3 vote nullifies laws in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma
and Missouri that prohibit oral and anal sex between same-sex couples.
典he decision announced by the Supreme Court of the
United States today renders Kansas adult homosexual sodomy law unenforceable
and unconstitutional,? said Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline.
鄭ccordingly, we are providing notice to counties and district attorneys and
other law enforcement officials of the nature of the Supreme Court decision
and its effect on this little-used Kansas law.?
Christine Robinson, former University of Kansas women痴
studies instructor who sought to overturn Kansas? sodomy law, said the
change gives activists more legal standing to amend other laws concerning
gays, lesbians and transgender people.
典his essentially invalidates the part of Kansas?
criminal sodomy law that criminalizes private, adult, consenting sexual
activity between members of the same sex,? she said. 的t痴 a huge
victory in that sense.?
Pedro Irigonegaray, a longtime Topeka attorney who also
has lobbied against the state痴 sodomy law, said the decision is a signal
鍍hat equality under the law applies to all citizens regardless of their
sexual orientation.?
Irigonegaray hoped the Supreme Court痴 decision will
accelerate movement in Topeka toward the passage of an anti-discrimination
ordinance aimed at protecting homosexuals. Last fall, the Topeka City Council
denied passage of such an ordinance.
鉄exual orientation is not a reason for discrimination
as a matter of law,? Irigonegaray said. 的致e been saying that for a
long time. Now it痴 not me saying it. Now it痴 the Supreme Court of the
United States saying it.?
Not everyone is celebrating. Fred Phelps, pastor of
Westboro Baptist Church and an anti-gay activist, said the decision marks a
monumental day in history.
的t痴 a harbinger of doom. It痴 the death knell of
American civilization,? he said. 的t痴 a covenant with death and an
agreement with Hell.?
He said if states can稚 prohibit homosexual sex, laws
against incest and bigamy can稚 be enforced because those acts also may
occur between consenting adults.
典his Supreme Court now says that the constitution of
the United States forbids states to declare, by their laws, that the sin of
sodomy is a crime,? Phelps said. 典herefore this constitution now
justifies and promotes this abominable and detestable crime against nature.?
He said today痴 ruling opens the door for same-sex
marriages.
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