Last edited: July 24, 2003

 

City Council Votes Against Sodomy Law

Associated Press, July 24, 2003
http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0307/24/m13.html

The Gulfport [Mississippi] City Council has voted 5-1 to condemn the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of a Texas law prohibiting homosexual sodomy.

Councilman Billy Hewes, who introduced the resolution criticizing the high court’s decision during Tuesday’s council meeting, said the ruling “corrupts the moral fiber of this nation.”

In June, the justices ruled that the Texas law that made homosexual sex a crime was an unconstitutional intrusion into people’s private matters.

The ruling invalidated similar laws in 12 other states, including Mississippi.

Hewes said the ruling is “the worst thing to happen to this country since they took prayer out of schools.”

Jody Renaldo, director of Equality Mississippi, a statewide gay rights organization, told Hewes he was elected to serve all the people, including gays.

Speaking to the council, Renaldo said many homosexuals own homes and pay taxes in Gulfport and deserve the same rights as other residents.

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