The 2003 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned state laws against non-commercial private consensual adult same-gender sex reverberates today in the pivotal decisions on reproductive rights, as well as the Courts own ethical scandals. Our flashback report features “Lawrence v. Texas” lead attorney Ruth Harlow of Lambda Legal and litigants John Lawrence and Tyron Garner, Dallas Gay & Lesbian Alliance President Roger Wedell, Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council, Robert Knight of the Culture and Family Institute, Revs. Rob Schenck and Jerry Falwell, Sr. of the National Clergy Council, Kate Kendall of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Jennifer Pizer of Lambda Legal, San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano, Dallas attorney Mitchell Katine, Houston activist Ray Hill and San Diego queer columnist Rex Wockner.
NewsWrap will return the week of January 8th.
All this on the December 25, 2023 edition of This Way Out!
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Complete Program Summary
for the week of December 25, 2023
Retrospective on a Retrospective: Lawrence 2003-2023
Co-hosted and produced this week by Lucia Chappelle and Greg Gordon
[“NewsWrap” returns on our week of January 8th, 2024 program.]
Feature: 2003 was a banner queer year. Some of the events that made it historic are the focus of this week’s special show (with intro music from Rent and occasional instrumental music under from It Was A Very Good Year performed by JOHN BASILE). One 2003 event in particular was arguably one of the most significant queer news stories of the 21st century (from NewsWrap on the This Way Out program of June 30, 2003, anchored by CINDY FRIEDMAN and CHRISTOPHER GAAL):
The U.S. Supreme Court strikes down "demeaning" state sodomy laws that criminalize queers: a comprehensive report on the 6-3 Lawrence versus Texas decision overturning the Texas statute and similar laws in 12 other states, emphatically reversing the Court's 1986 Bowers versus Hardwick decision that had upheld Georgia's since repealed sodomy ban; quoting from Justice Anthony Kennedy's majority opinion, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's concurring opinion, and dissenting opinions by Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia; some of the implications of the ruling's especially bold language on such issues as marriage equality, and how some of the affected states are responding to the ruling.
The Supreme victory over U.S. sodomy laws has queer activists rejoicing at pre-planned rallies and impromptu street parties across the country, and leaves the religious right reeling, as reported by:
DAVID TAFFET in Dallas [with thanks to Geoff Staples at RadioLeft.com], BRYAN GOEBEL in San Francisco and JD DOYLE in Houston. Comments by Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Legal Director and lead attorney in the Lawrence vs. Texas case Ruth Harlow, Dallas Gay & Lesbian Alliance President Roger Wedell, Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council, Robert Knight of the Culture and Family Institute, National Clergy Council President Rev. Rob Schenck and Rev. Jerry Falwell, Kate Kendall of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Jennifer Pizer of the San Francisco-area Lambda Legal office and openly-gay San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano, litigants John Lawrence and Tyron Garner and their local attorney Mitchell Katine, and long time Houston activist Ray Hill.
Plus commentary by queer journalist and columnist REX WOCKNER in San Diego. Music from Battle Hymn of the Republic performed by ELVIS PRESLEY, God Bless America performed by KATE SMITH, and with intro/outro music from The Sodomy Song written and performed by ROMANOVSKY & PHILLIPS; postscript music bed from the instrumental intro to TRIUMPH’s Fight The Good Fight.
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