It was only fourteen years ago that the last state undid its anti-miscegenation laws, despite Loving v Virginia being decided in 1967. So it is perhaps not a surprise that Louisiana has refused to repeal its law outlawing gay sex today, despite the 2003 Lawrence v Texas decision.
Still, the massive margin by which the repeal was voted down by might leave some shaking their heads:
The Louisiana House just voted to keep a law on the books that makes sex between people of the same gender illegal. The vote to continue oppression against the LGBT community was 67-27, with 11 members not voting.
Or the rationale for some of the anti-repeal votes might leave you agape:
BRZ reports that Republican Rep. Valarie Hodges opposed revoking the anti-sodomy laws "saying the law protects children and upholds morality."
Meanhile, the Blog of New Orleans reports that GOP Rep. Valarie Hodges voted against revoking the anti-sodomy law because "yesterday was Passover and Friday is Good Friday."
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But it really shouldn't. Just five years ago, in 2009, a Louisiana Judge
refused to marry an interracial couple.
Judge Keith Bardwell, an elected justice of the peace for Tangipahoa Parish‘s 8th Ward in Louisiana is refusing to issue a marriage license and preside over the wedding of Beth Humphrey, 30, and her boyfriend, Terence McKay, 32, both of Hammond, Louisiana. Terence McKay is black and Beth Humphrey is white.
And anyway, even if the Legislature had passed the repeal act
Republican Governor Bobby Jindal, considered a contender for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, is believed to support the sodomy laws, regardless of their unconstitutionality, and would not sign a law revoking them.
Because, after all, who would vote for a man to be President who is against
volcano monitoring while being for
gay sex?