Sodomy: What Is It?
Sodomy is most commonly legally defined as any contact between the genitals of one person, and the mouth or anus of another. The word has its origins in Christianity. It is sometimes used to mean sexual deviation, though in legal contexts it is defined as above. Throughout history, "sodomites," mostly male homosexuals and bestialists, have been punished by a largely theocratically controlled government, in hopes of stamping out "ungodly practices" that might bring divine retribution against Christian society. In medieval Europe, intercourse between a male field worker and a noble woman was legally considered "sodomy," as it was thought to cause a poor harvest. The history of the concept of sodomy is tied to the Church in most every case.
Currently, there is no federal sodomy law, though some federal land falls under maritime jurisdiction, which may have sanctions in some cases. 25 states do not have sodomy laws. 5 states have laws pertaining to homosexual sodomy only, and the remaining 20 states, plus the District of Columbia, have laws covering all sodomy, even between heterosexuals.
How some states have titled their sodomy statues
 | Arizona (and others): "Crime Against Nature" |
| Alabama: "Sexual Misconduct" |
| District of Columbia: "Sexual Psychopaths" |
| Florida: "Unnatural & Lascivious Act" |
| Massachusetts: "Sodomy & Buggery" |
| Maryland: "Unnatural or Perverted Sexual Practices" |
| Mississippi: "Unnatural Intercourse" |
| Montana: "Deviate Sexual Conduct" |
| Texas: "Homosexual Conduct" |
| Wisconsin: "Sexual Perversion" |
Only For Homosexual Conduct
The five states with sodomy laws pertaining to homosexual conduct only....
| Arkansas |
| Kansas |
| Montana |
| Nevada |
| Texas |
The Dirty Dozen
The twelve states with the toughest maximum penalties are...
| Michigan LIFE in prison for repeat offenders, 15 otherwise |
| Georgia 20 years |
| Rhode Island 20 years |
| Tennessee 15 years |
| Maryland 10 years |
| Mississippi 10 years |
| Montana 10 years, homosexual offenders only |
| North Carolina 10 years |
| Oklahoma 10 years |
| Washington, DC 10 years |
| Nevada 6 years, homosexual only |
| Idaho 5 years MINIMUM penalty |
Other States With Sodomy Laws
| Alabama |
| Louisiana |
| Kentucky |
| Minnesota |
| Missouri |
| South Carolina |
| Virginia |
| Utah |