How many states banned sodomy at the time of the stonewall riots?
History · High School · Sun Jan 24 2021
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Before the Stonewall riots in 1969, all 50 states in the United States had laws prohibiting sodomy in various forms. Sodomy laws criminalized certain sexual acts, including those between individuals of the same sex and were used to persecute and discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals. These laws varied in their specifics, but they were widespread across the United States and were used to justify discrimination and harassment against the LGBTQ+ community. Over time, legal challenges and changes in societal attitudes led to the eventual overturning of sodomy laws, with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling sodomy laws unconstitutional in the landmark case Lawrence v. Texas in 2003.