Sodomy

 Chrissy Rubino  ** Sodomy **** (pronounced [|/] [|ˈ] [|s] [|ɒ] [|dəmi/] )  ** ** Definition  **  Any of various forms of sexual intercourse held to be unnatural or abnormal, especially anal intercourse or bestiality (Harrub and Miller, 2004).  ** History of term **  The word sodomy originated in the 13 th century in the ancient Palestinian city of Sodom, it’s synonym, unnatural sex. It comes from the name of the town that God destroyed due to their sinful actions. Two angels had been sent to warn Lot, a man who lived in Sodom, that God was displeased with the wickedness of the city's residents and might exterminate all human life over a large geographical area, including the city of Sodom. An angry mob came to Lot’s house, demanded Lot send out the two strangers, he refused but offered his two virgin daughters instead, they refused. The angels ended up blinding some of the mob because of their vulgarity and negative intent (Robinson, 2011). This Greek word is also found in the New Testament from which the phrase is translated "indulging in gross immorality", or in some Bibles, "giving themselves over to fornication". Homosexuality (sodomy) was treated as a criminal offense in all of the original thirteen colonies, and eventually every one of the fifty states (see Robinson, 2003; “Sodomy Laws...,” 2003). Severe penalties were invoked for those who engaged in homosexuality. In fact, few Americans know that the penalty for homosexuality in several states was death (Miller, 2011). Sodomy, the longtime historical term for same-sex relations, was a capital crime under British common law. Sir William Blackstone, British attorney, jurist, law professor, and political philosopher, authored his monumental //Commentaries on the Laws of England// from 1765-1769. ** Communicating term  **  This term portrays the negativity that is present in our society and questions the U.S. freedom law. Considering the basis for how this action inherited its name truly speaks on the behalf of its negative connotation. Sodomy is heavily focused on homosexuality and post Civil war sodomy branded all gays as criminals, the sodomy prohibition provides a justification for other forms of discrimination, public and private, which injure gay in such area as employment, professional licensing, free speech, immigration adoption, and child custody( Koppleman, 1989). Although this view on gays has changed a colossal amount, a lot of these brands have not changed completely. Gay activists continue to try and normalize sodomy as much as they possibly can in any possible way that seems plausible for their case. It would have been highly frowned upon in America 50 years ago that homosexuality would encroach in our culture as it has. It was something that was unthinkable. Homosexuals continue to bully our nation in the aspect of normalizing what was once considered abnormal. Normalizing homosexuality does not satisfy them though, they continue to fight and voice their opinions until it is completely accepted amongst everyone and everywhere. They have fought to get they views taught in public schools, but this doesn’t appease them. They are not moved onto redefining marriage to include same sex couples (Miller, 2011).   ** Religion  **  Christian religion has had very strong viewpoints on sodomy since the beginning of time. Many politicians today base their decisions and opinions based on the Christian religion. It was on record stating quite forcibly that America’s political prosperity, popular government, and even human happiness are dependent on the moral foundation of the Christian religion. Homosexuality is only one of many departures from God’s will for human morality and sexuality that society is facing. Senate and house bills are set to define legal marriage as only through male and female and not same sex. Most use the biblical stance to make these decisions), as well as to prohibit the use of public funds or facilities to sanction or foster sodomy and sexual misconduct . The so-called “Bible Belt” is undoubtedly the final frontier for the defense of traditional American values—i.e., those drawn from the Bible (Miller, 2011). These moral principles were the ideals upon which the Founding Fathers launched the grand American experiment, and it is these moral principles that have characterized American civilization from the beginning—up until the last 50 years. If Christians aren’t willing to speak up or out against their religion and the negativity it portrays then the chance for more change is not plausible and we degradation will continue. An example of the Christian belief fighting against sodomy is from the Westboro Baptist Church who is infamous for its homophobic and anti-Semitic rants, and its protests at the funerals of soldiers and AIDS victims. They plan on staging a demonstration across the street from the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards, a homosexual woman, who died on breast cancer at the age of 61. They were across the street from the funeral with signs that said, “ Thank God for Breast Cancer” and “Your Mercies are Cruel” (Gibson, 2010). Another example of sodomy being demised in a religious aspect is from the Westboro group in 2006 where they picketed at a U.S. Marines funeral that was killed in Iraq. They picketed with signs that said, “Thank God for dead soldiers” (Olivera, 2011). The U.S. Marines father sued and lost 8-1 because Westboro’s actions were protected by freedom of speech.  ** Law **  In the Lawrence vs. Texas Supreme Court case (2003) that held a 6-3 decision that it is unconstitutional that the Texas law prohibited sexual acts between same sex marriages. This was a very large case that many people got involved in, and had very strong opinions about. There was a similar case that took place in 1986, Bowers v Hardwick, which ruled against same sex sexual acts. This shows the progress that continues to be made by gay activists and the surrounding communities on same sex couples. This case came into play when police were called on a disturbance and barged into the apartment complex to find two males participating in homosexual activity. They were both arrested for “deviate sexual behavior” and fined $200. Justice Kennedy's majority opinion forcefully declared that there is a fundamental right for consenting adults to engage in private sexual activity. Justice Kennedy said that this right is protected under the word "liberty" in the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (Chemerinsky, 2002). Although if sexual activity is accepted for opposite sex couples in public, it should be accepted for same sex couples in public, but really should be in the privacy of their own homes where they are not bothering others. __ References __ Chemerinsky, E. (2002). //Lawrence v. texas//. Retrieved from http://www.law.duke.edu/publiclaw/supremecourtonline/commentary/lawvtex Gibson, D. . (2010). //Christian extremist group to picket elizabeth edwards funeral//. Retrieved from [] Harrub, B., & Miller, D. (2004). An investigation of the biblical evidence against homosexuality. //Apologetics Press//, Retrieved from [] Koppelman, A. . (1989). //The miscegenation analogy: sodomy law as sex discrimination//. Retrieved from http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?collection=journals&handle=hein.journals/ylr98&div=14&id=&page Miller, D. . (2011). The founders of homosexuality. //Apologetics Press//, Retrieved from [] Olivera, J. (2011, March 18). //Thank god for dead soldiers//. Retrieved from []