ACLU Defends Anti-gay Minister Latham arrested for asking for gay sex

[Ian David]

ACLU Says Charges Against Southern Baptist Minister Accused of Soliciting Sex with Another Man Should be Dismissed (2/1/2006)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: [e-mail]

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The American Civil Liberties Union filed a friend-of-the-court brief today urging an Oklahoma court to dismiss charges against a Southern Baptist minister who was arrested for soliciting private sex with another male.

“The Supreme Court has made it crystal clear that, when it comes to their sex lives, consenting adults are free to do whatever they please in private,” said Joann Bell, Executive Director of the ACLU of Oklahoma. “According to the police report, Rev. Latham did nothing more than invite another man to his hotel room for consensual sex. It is not a crime merely to invite someone to have completely lawful sex. If it were otherwise, every bar in the state may as well shut its doors.”

The Reverend Dr. Lonnie Latham was arrested on January 3, 2006, on the misdemeanor charge of “Offering to Engage in an Act of Lewdness.” According to the police report, he approached a male plainclothes police officer and invited the officer back to his hotel room for oral sex. It is not alleged that Latham offered money in exchange for the sex act.

The brief filed today in the District Court of Oklahoma County argues that charges should be dismissed against Latham because non-commercial sex between consenting adults in private is a constitutionally protected activity. According to the ACLU it is a violation of the Constitution’s free speech guarantee for the state to criminalize speech that is merely an invitation to engage in lawful behavior.

Latham’s arrest, which generated a significant amount of media attention, forced him to resign from his position as a board member of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.

To view the legal documents filed by the ACLU in the case, visit www.aclu.org/lgbt/discrim/24027lgl20060201.html

Per DU Rules, Press Releases can be posted in entirety.

More:
http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/discrim/24032prs20060201.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. ACLU walks its talk

and defends those who would destroy the organization. Perhaps this minister will awaken from his fundamentalist nightmare and realize some things about himself and about the Constitution.

[Democrats_win]

2. It´s not really about gays, is it? More about entrapment. Crooked cops.

[niyad]

3. The ACLU does indeed walk its talk. what is disgusting is a preacher

whose denomination rants against gays soliciting gay sex. It may not have been a crime, but it most certainly was the most blatant hypocricy.

[kenny blankenship]

6. And by becoming involved on his side, the ACLU

with its instantly profile-raising visibility, will help broadcast the obvious hypocrisy of Rev. Latham to every town in America in reach of a far-right AM talk radio station. At the same time that it exposes the psychotic cynicism of Rev. Latham and his type of gay-baiting demogoguery, the ACLU carries on the fight against police entrapment and the unConstitutional misuse of local police power to enforce suppression of the sex lives of consenting adults.

I'd say my donation is being very well used!

[VaYallaDawg]

7. I agree with both of you totally.

ACLU strategy is right on target with this. Not only are they acting consistently with their mission, they're doing it in a way that is bound to create awareness with those who hate them most.

[Ian David]

8. Not just his denomination, but this particular preacher as well...

apparently did his share of verbal gay-bashing.

He doth protest too much.

All of those gay-bashers who say that homosexuality is a temptation say that because they personally feel tempted.

All of those gay-bashers who say homosexuality is a "choice" say that because, they, personally have "chosen" to ignore their own homosexual urges.

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. Good for the ACLU!

This guy should be defended, hypocrite though he is. Perhaps he will stop being a hypocrite now. :-)

[Zenlitened]

5. What's that sound? Kind of a buzzing, whirring noise...

Oh! It's the sound of millions of fundie heads spinning furiously 'round and 'round!

That Lord-dude, he sure do work in mysterious ways!

:rofl:

[joeybee12]

9. Next time your teacher asks you for an example of irony...

...go ahead and read him/her this!!!