Group Seeks Repeal of Kansas Sodomy Law

KANSAS CITY, Mo. –  Gay sex is a crime in the state of Kansas even though the United States Supreme Court says the state law forbidding it is unconstitutional.  The law is the Criminal Sodomy Law which prohibits same sex couples from having sex.

But the Supreme Court has ruled similar laws unconstitutional, and the Secretary of the Kansas City Chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition, Sandra Meade, says keeping it on the books is only further hurting the Gay, Lesbian, Bi, and Transgender community.

Basically, this criminalizes loving relationships in the State of Kansas. A sodomy law in Texas was ruled unconstitutional in 2003 but a similar law in Kansas is still part of the states’ legal code.

” I think very embarrassing,” she said. “How could it not be?”

So now the Kansas Equality Coalition is asking the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee to repeal the law.

“As long as its on the books, this gives anybody the right to, because being on the books says the behavior is criminal,” Meade said   “It says that a loving couple are committing a criminal act so that gives the right to prosecute them, temporarily arrest then, harass them, even though it may be then thrown out of court, it still is on the books and it needs to go.”

But, the group may be fighting an uphill battle. Governor Sam Brownback’s Office of the Repealer has recommended 50 laws, regulations and executive orders be taken off the books. The sodomy law was not one of them.  Meade says the devalues the gay community.

“The community are doctors, lawyers, pilots, they serve your food, they cut your hair and if he didn’t sign it he would be devaluing it, he would say how little they are, how little he values them compared to the other citizens of Kansas.”

The Coalition has introduced a bill which would repeal the Kansas Gay Sex Law and says they will continue to push until the law is gone. A hearing on the bill will be held on Tuesday.

When contacted by FOX 4, Governor Sam Brownback’s office would not say if the Governor would sign the bill if approved, only that he will consider all bills sent to him by the Kansas Legislature.