Bills Challenge Antigay Michigan Laws
The
Advocate, May 7, 2003
A Michigan lawmaker announced new legislation on Monday
that would repeal the state�s Gross Indecency Law, which among other
prohibitions bars people of the same gender from having sex. State
representative Steve Tobocman (D-Detroit) introduced the legislation as well
as other bills that would repeal laws prohibiting cursing, blasphemy, and
cohabitation. Sean Kosofsky, policy director for the Detroit-based gay rights
group Triangle Foundation, said dozens of men are arrested each year for
�gross indecency.�
Gross indecency statutes classify certain adult
consensual noncommercial sex as a felony, punishable by up to 15 years in
prison. Kosofsky said that while most people charged under the law don�t
typically serve jail time, they pay high fees and are on the state�s
sex-offender registry. �Most people believe these laws are silly and that
Michigan looks silly for maintaining them,� Kosofsky said.
The bills have been referred to the house criminal
justice committee. Rep. William Van Regenmorter, a Republican from Ottawa
County�s Georgetown Township, is chairman of the criminal justice committee.
He didn�t return a call seeking comment about whether the committee would
take up the bills.
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