Human Rights Maps (69): Legalization of Homosexuality in the U.S.

In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision in Lawrence v. Texas invalidated the so-called “sodomy laws” that were still in force in 14 States at the time. In the decades before that, the other States gradually abolished their laws voluntarily. Here’s an overview:

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The following 14 states still have sodomy laws on the books to this day:

(source)

Following Lawrence these laws became unenforceable, but one can see them as signaling official disapproval by the government of homosexuality.

Thanks to Lawrence, the U.S. compares favorably with the 80 or so other countries in the world where homosexuality is still illegal and where punishment for this “crime” can be very severe.

More on the legality or criminalization of homosexuality here. More on homophobia. More human rights maps.