Registrable Sex Offenses

"Oral copulation" and sodomy and indecent exposure are "registrable sex offenses" in the state of California, meaning that if convicted the person needs to register as a sex offender, be listed on Megans Law websites and announced to one's neighbors that one is a sex offender.

Indecent exposure, of course, includes women being topless in the same places where men are allowed to be topless (as discussed over at The Colonic).

Sodomy technically / historically means basically putting a penis anywhere other than a vagina, which could cover oral as well.

And former President Clinton would be a registered sex offender had the Oval Office been located in California instead of DC.



I know these are old laws that just happen to still be on the books and generally people aren't persecuted for them... but I don't really understand what's stopping us from saying, "Oh, hey, I found one of those out dated ones... Let's scratch that," with a general nod of unanimous agreement from everyone. I see them as merely being potential weapons to throw at someone for other purposes, like the homophobia demonstrated in Lawrence v Texas.

Does someone really need to get caught and drag a case up to the Supreme Court in order for these laws to be overturned? Because, a) that's kind of ridiculous and b) let's get some volunteers.

Equality Irony

apparently...

Wyoming is the "Equality State" according to their state nickname. They were the first to grant women the right to vote.

Wyoming is also where Matthew Shepard was murdered by a bunch of homophobes.

Interesting.

Congratulations Iowa

Not only for very clearly choosing Obama across so many demographic groups and independent voters and everything else awesome


But for so many people caucusing. And for that many new caucus goers and college kids.

Hurray. Democracy's on the way back up perhaps.