Should homosexual acts be legal or illegal? If illegal, what should be enforced as the rules and penalties?

Question

This question is asked in R&S because it is often a topic addressed in religious sermons.

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I recognize that homosexual acts are legal in most western countries, but there are many countries where they are illegal. Punishment in these regions can range from paying a fine to imprisonment or even to death.

The US Supreme court only disallowed sodomy prosecutions in June 2003, a scant 4 years ago. Until then, many states still had laws that declared homosexual acts constituted a felony.

I certainly hope that there has been a sea change regarding sexual behavior. However, the manner in which the religious right has attempted to enact into law religious rules and thoughts makes me ever watchful regarding the ongoing safety of gay men and lesbians in a religious environment.

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Answer 1

The Supreme Court, in Lawrence vs. Texas, has already decided that private, consensual sexual acts between persons of the same sex cannot be made illegal by the states.

Consequently, for your answer, no, they cannot be made illegal, unless the Supreme Court decision is reversed. This is highly unlikely, even with a conservative majority.

And you really need to stop and ask, just WHY do some religious people think it's their business to regulate what others do in bed?

So-called 'morality laws' instituted and advocated and pushed by religious people is one of the biggest indicators of their extraordinary arrogance.

These self-appointed religious extremists think they know what is best for everyone, but their lives are twisted, paranoid nightmares, and their divorce rate is proof of this.

What did Jesus say about 'taking the beam out of your eye, before removing the speck in your neighbor's eye?'

Answer 2

Legal. The government should not regulate what two consenting adults do in private. It's none of their business. Government should stay in the public realm. The Supreme Court finally struck down sodomy laws in 2003. Under many of these laws even oral sex between heterosexual married couples was illegal.

Answer 3

Homosexual sex is not illegal where I live, though the age limit to engage in it is 21. This is being fought in Parliament for the age to be lowered to 16 which is the age of consent for heterosexual sex. No law or religion should judge what is legal or illegal sex between 2 people, but I do agree there should be an age of consent which protects our kids from predators of both orientation and rules and penalities should be the same.

Answer 4

Legal, of course. I notice that one or two people have made the argument that "they're born that way". This may be true, but is, I think, irrelevant. Even if homosexuality were an entirely free choice (or as free as any choice can be), it shouldn't be a matter for the law.

Answer 5

Since the only reasons to ban homosexual acts are religious reasons, and this is not a theocracy, the government has nothing to do with it. If you are a christian, and you think homosexuality is *yucky* or *sinful* then by all means abstain from homosexual acts. As far as anyone else, do not presume to think it's any of your business. It isn't.

Answer 6

I can't stand you religious fanatics. Gay people are here & they are not going anywhere. Don't you people have a Bible to read instead of picking on people who just want to be happy & left the **** alone. They are NOT sinners, they are NOT pedophiles, they are people just like me & you who deserve the right to marry & not be harrassed. Have you ever met a gay person? I can assure you that they are nicer & more trustworthy that us straight people.

Edit I'm very sorry, this answer is for those religious nuts, not you

Answer 7

Agree with garik, above.

The late great Pierre Elliott Trudeau, longtime Prime Minister of Canada, famously said: "The state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation."

Answer 8

Perhaps by the middle of the 21st century, sexual orientation will follow race and gender by becoming a non-issue in essentially all but the most conservative of churches and other religious groups. Discrimination against minority sexual orientations will be perceived as institutional hatred, and totally incompatible with the Gospel message - much as racism and sexism are today. Homosexuality and bisexuality will be recognized simply as a normal and natural sexual orientation for a minority of people.

Answer 9

They should be legal and ARE legal.

Nobody has the rigth to judge about the acts of others, certainly not concerning this kind of things. It is up to the peroson if he acts as homosexual or heterosexual.

Answer 10

I don't think that governments have the right to do so. To tell two consenting adults what to do in the privacy of their bedroom. However, it is a fact that many diseases can be transmitted easily by homosexuality. What would you have them do? Have the sex patrol burst into a bedroom and write a ticket to those who aren't using a condom? Crazy.