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4d ago

Texas House Approves Repeal of Long-Defunct Anti-Sodomy Law

The bipartisan effort to remove the unenforceable statute now advances to the Senate, with weeks remaining in the legislative session.

Demonstrators in favor of LGBTQ rights rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, DC, October 8, 2019
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Overview

  • House Bill 1738, authored by Rep. Venton Jones, passed the Texas House with a 72-55 vote, marking the first time such a repeal has cleared the chamber.
  • The bill seeks to formally repeal Texas’ criminal ban on homosexual conduct, which has been unenforceable since the Supreme Court's 2003 ruling in Lawrence v. Texas.
  • Support for the repeal included all House Democrats and 12 Republicans, demonstrating rare bipartisan cooperation on a civil liberties issue.
  • The measure now moves to the Texas Senate, where it must pass committee and floor votes before the legislative session ends on June 2.
  • Advocates emphasize the repeal’s importance in preventing potential legal uncertainty, particularly after the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade revived dormant statutes.