Death by sodomy.The U.S. Supreme Court struck down all U.S. sodomy sodomy n. anal copulation by a man inserting his penis in the anus either of another man or a woman. If accomplished by force, without consent, or with someone incapable of consent, sodomy is a felony in all states in the same way that rape is. Homosexual (male to male) sodomy between consenting adults has also been found a felony, but increasingly is either decriminalized or seldom prosecuted. laws in 2003, and no European countries outlaw gay sex--not even Vatican City Vatican City (văt`ĭkən), independent state (2005 est. pop. 900), 108.7 acres (44 hectares), within the city of Rome, Italy, and the residence of the pope, who is its absolute ruler.. But laws against homosexuality are alive and well in many nations around the world, where penalties range from a fine to life in prison to execution. In the African nation of Cameroon Cameroon, countryCameroon (kăm'ər n`), Fr. Cameroun, officially Republic of Cameroon, republic (2005 est. pop. 16,380,000), 183,568 sq mi (475,442 sq km), W central Africa., for example, seven men whose "crime" was attending a gay-friendly nightclub last year were found guilty of sodomy and sentenced in June to 10-month jail terms. Similar cases are heard daily in nations around the world, says Cary Alan Johnson of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. Sodomy laws, he says, are regularly used to "scapegoat gay and lesbian people, particularly in developing countries." The map below depicts many of the countries where gay sex is outlawed; countries in pale yellow are not necessarily gay-friendly but may not have explicit bans. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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