‘Sodomy’ repeal bill gets stalled
Adapted from reporting by PGN staff
A bill to repeal Pennsylvania’s law prohibiting “deviate sexual intercourse,” which many interpreted to outlaw sodomy, came to a halt after losing its principal sponsor in the summer of 1976.
State Sen. Louis G. Hill, a Philadelphia Democrat, wrote in a letter to a member of the House, “I am not going to put the bill in, as it would not pass.”
Hill had conducted a poll of his colleagues to determine the extent of possible support for the measure. The results indicated eight were in favor of the repeal, 21 opposed and two were undecided. Fourteen did not respond.
Hill told PGN he was unwilling to risk another major legislative defeat in 1976. He declined further meeting requests from PGN publisher Mark Segal.
Sen. Henry C. Messinger, a Lehigh Valley Democrat, was committed to the repeal as a cosponsor. But, in a meeting with the Pennsylvania Rural Gay Caucus, he would not commit himself to becoming the principal sponsor in Hill’s stead.
Sen. H. Craig Lewis, a Bucks County Democrat, said he would be willing to be the principal sponsor if he had support from Gov. Milton Shapp’s office.
Gay youth committee forms
Adapted from reporting by PGN staff
The Governor’s Council for Sexual Minorities formed a Gay Youth Committee with Jane Cooper serving as convener. The first meeting was set for July 6, 1976, in Harrisburg.
The goal was to establish a central agency to exchange information about the problems facing gay youth.
Cooper, one of the founding members of the Council for Sexual Minorities, was also a contributing reporter to PGN.
