Seven Years Ago Today

On this day in 2003, the US Supreme Court handed down their landmark decision in Lawrence v. Texas, overturning the Texas sodomy law and similar laws in other states.  In so doing, the Court took away a chief weapon used by the haters to restrict our freedom.  On this Pride weekend, it is appropriate to remember the courage of John Lawrence and Tyron Gardner, pictured above, who fought for justice for all of us. 

If you have never read Justice Kennedy's majority opinion in the case, you owe it to yourself to do so.  Here is an excerpt:

"The petitioners are entitled to respect for their private lives. The State cannot demean their existence or control their destiny by making their private sexual conduct a crime. Their right to liberty under the Due Process Clause gives them the full right to engage in their conduct without intervention of the government. “It is a promise of the Constitution that there is a realm of personal liberty which the government may not enter.” Casey, supra, at 847. The Texas statute furthers no legitimate state interest which can justify its intrusion into the personal and private life of the individual."


Happy Pride.