The Louisiana State House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to reject a state Democrat’s attempt to repeal an anti-sodomy law, enshrining the anti-gay measure in the state’s books.
State Representative Patricia Smith sought to amend Louisiana’s crimes against nature law by removing a prohibition on consensual relations between people of the same sex, the Associated Press reports. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled a similar Texas law unconstitutional a decade ago.
State Representative Valarie Hodges, a Republican, led opponents of Smith’s measure, who said the law protects children and upholds morality. The State House voted 66-27 in favor of rejecting the repeal.
Smith brought the repeal bill after Baton Rouge-area police officers arrested gay men using the law. They were unable to charge the men because the district attorney said the law was not enforceable.
[AP]
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com