Gay marriage critic tried on lewdness

[tuvor]

OKLAHOMA CITY - The lawyer for a former Baptist church leader who had spoken out against homosexuality said Thursday the minister has a constitutional right to solicit sex from an undercover policeman.

The Rev. Lonnie W. Latham had supported a resolution calling on gays and lesbians to reject their "sinful, destructive lifestyle" before his Jan. 3, 2006, arrest outside the Habana Inn in Oklahoma City.

Authorities say he asked the undercover policeman to come up to his hotel for oral sex.

His attorney, Mack Martin, filed a motion to have the misdemeanor lewdness charge thrown out, saying the Supreme Court ruled in the 2003 decision Lawrence v. Texas that it was not illegal for consenting adults to engage in private homosexual acts.

"Now, my client's being prosecuted basically for having offered to engage in such an act, which basically makes it a crime to ask someone to do something that's legal," Martin said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/pastor_charged

[gratuitous]

1. "Latham declined to talk to reporters"

Gee, it doesn't seem that Brother Latham had much trouble opening his yap previously. A Southern Baptist pastor who won't talk; it's a miracle!

[Tesha]

11. Snake's got his tongue. (NT)

[Qutzupalotl]

14. Tongue's got a snake.

:rofl:

[Erika]

2. The Pastor denounces gays while soliciting them for sex

So familiar. No wonder people want nothing to do with religion. Bunch of sickies.

[rodeodance]

4. this type seems to be the worse-with their yelling about sin (gays)

[Hieronymus]

3. One more hypocrite ... damn, are all wingnut preachers gay?

[varun]

5. But the pastor was all for making sodomy illegal

so he should not get relief from the supreme court's 2003 decision.

"...His attorney, Mack Martin, filed a motion to have the misdemeanor lewdness charge thrown out, saying the Supreme Court ruled in the 2003 decision Lawrence v. Texas that it was not illegal for consenting adults to engage in private homosexual acts..."

[xchrom]

6. i love this more than words can say!

lonnie is maybe the best ''mouthpiece'' for hate yet caught with his pants down.

[GCP]

7. I love and hate this at the same time

I love the fact that yet another reich-wing hypocritical nut-job gets caught trying to do the very same thing he castigates others for.
But on the other hand - since when is it against the law to try and get a blow-job when no money is changing hands?

[varun]

12. I feel sad

40 years after the stonewall riots, there are people in this country still so uncomfortable with their sexuality that they make the lives of other well adjusted gay people miserable.

We have failed as a society to educate and enlighten each other that gay people are just like other Americans. They are not special, and they want to lead their lives just like other ordinary Americans do.

[rocktivity]

20. If he wanted a free blowjob, he should have gone to a gay bar or a party

not walked up to a stranger in the street in an area KNOWN for prostitution. THEN it would have been a private matter.

:headbang:
rocknation

[PA Democrat]

8. Well, from now on, I will assume that the religious leaders screaming the loudest

about the "sin" of homosexuality, are themselves closeted homosexuals. Perhaps if everyone start to question the people who condemn gays the loudest about their OWN sexuality, they will shut the hell up. Seriously, these people need therapy to deal with their own self-loathing and they need to leave other people, who are actually comfortable with their sexuality, alone.

[pokercat999]

25. I've been saying for a couple of years now that

Michael Savage (rw hate radio nut) has to be a closet gay and hates himself for it. He rants almost daily about gay men and can work it into almost any conversation. I find these kind of people very strange, but what is worse is they are very dangerous as the weak of mind (and often strong of back) follow their rantings and too often act out with violence (physical or verbal) against innocent people.

[jollyreaper2112]

9. sheesh

There's gotta be soemthing special about this whole religion/gay sex thing. I mean, how often do you hear about a health guru like Richard Simmons caught late at night sneaking out of a convenience store with a box of dingdongs? "Fitness Celebrity Arrested After Week-long Pizza Binge!"

[Ilsa]

10. How typical for judgmental religious leaders to split hairs

about their "sin" versus others'. I hope his congregation and the community finally figure it out.

[Truthseeker013]

13. Gay marriage critic tried on lewdness

Ummmm...

Ahhhh...

What *can* be said here? Something about motes and beams in eyes? Something about stones and glass houses? or maybe something about directions to the nearest cruising park?

[Ian David]

15. See prior thread Lonnie, Lonnie Lonnie Get Your Verdict Here! Latham Verdict Expected Within 2 Weeks

Lonnie, Lonnie Lonnie Get Your Verdict Here! Latham Verdict Expected Within 2 Weeks
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x48941

[NobleCynic]

16. Chuckle

When did devoutly religious and family-values oriented become the new code words for pinker than a commie cotton candy factory?

[Betty]

17. too bad it's not illegal to be a big old hypocrite

because he's GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY of that. "Sinful, destructive lifestyle" except when he does it. Asshole.

[SemperEadem]

26. he should be reminded of that passage in the bible he supposedly reads

which says "a doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways".

[rocktivity]

18. I've seen enough prostitution stings on Cops

to notice that the bust doesn't go down until a specific agreement to exchange money for sex is recorded. Money--not adult mutual consent or sexual preference--is what makes prostitution criminal. Unless the reverend can prove that money not discussed, he hasn't got a leg to stand on--if you'll pardon the expression.

:headbang:
rocknation

[WorldResident]

24. But he wasn't charged for soliciting prostitution

He was charged with lewdness.

Regardless of the preacher's politics, I agree with his attorney that these charges are unconstitutional.

[truthisfreedom]

19. It's always the ones that yell the loudest.

[Seldona]

21. What is it with these people?

There is a pathology here that no one has really looked into yet. Or perhaps they have and I just haven't read about it. While there are a myrid of reasons people like this exhibit this sort of behavior, religion certainly seems to be the largest cause of repression and self hatred and denial.

It is a really sick, not to mention sad, place to be. Where society needs to learn to draw the line is when they attempt to project their disease on others. So much misery can be traced to this... What a waste.

[FlaGranny]

27. Not a disease.

He doesn't have a disease. He has a sexuality that he is unreasonably ashamed of and projects onto others. Well, maybe the projection itself is a disease of sorts. Have to think about that.

[mitchum]

22. Geez, that defense is like something out of Alice...er...Mary In Wonderland

[MasonJar]

23. How many of the self-righteous freakezoids are out there?