Homosexuals face threat
of severe sodomy laws
This is part three of a four-part series.
by H.J. Cummins
Crimes Against Nature (Nebraska Statute 28-919 1929)
"Whoever has carnal copulation with a beast, or in an opeing of
the body except sexual parts with another human being, shall be
guilty of sodomy and shall be imprisoned in the Nebraska Penal
and Correctional Complex not more than 20 years. "
Nebraska's sodomy statute (above) makes oral or anal sex with
another adult a felony and punishable with up to 20 years in
prison.
'This is one of the more severe," said Lou Crompton, English
professor and past instructor of UNL's homophile course.
He pointed out the law has been, however, "a dead letter for
at least five years." To his knowledge, no one has been
prosecuted under the law for that long.
HE ALSO SAID the law has never been enforced against
women.
Newspaper clippings detail police action against homosexuals
since 1968, which include the "Lincoln Entrapment," and two
cases of sodomy prosecutions.
The "Entrapment" in the summer of 1968 led to 14 warnings
(all involved were released) from plainsclothesmen who
frequented an Antelope Park man's room in hopes of being
propositioned.
POLICEMEN STAGGERED their regular patrol duties with
plainsclothes duty for four weeks and warned the gay men they
found they were violating a park regulation against "lewd
conduct" in the park.
An Omaha World-Herald article told about Victor
Leadinghorse, 25, who had been jailed in October, 1970, "on
charges of being a sexual psychopath."
The jail officials, contrary to the court order, did not put
Leadinghorse in solitary confinement and charges were brought
against the prisoner for a "morals violation against a youth from
the Kearney Boys Training School." (Leadinghorse was jailed in
Buffalo County.)
LEADINGHORSE was convicted on two counts of sodomy
and sentenced to 1 5 years in the Nebraska Penal Complex.
In March, 1971, Richard Brown, 24, of Omaha, was sentenced
to 18 months in the Nebraska Penal Complex on a felony charge
after an incident in the city jail.
Brown pleaded innocent to a charge brought by an 18-year-old
inmate who alleged two inmates had forced him to perform
"unnatural sex acts."
DAVE MCINTOSH of the Lincoln Gay Action Group said
even if the sodomy statute is not enforced, although it is, he sees
it as "a powerful tool that prevents open homosexuals from
admission in law school, medical school and any well-paying,
status professions."
The law applies potentially to heterosexual as well as
homosexual relations, Crompton said, since "according to the
Kinsey report, most married couples (60 per cent) with college
backgrounds violate the state statute."
A lawyer who recently left Lincoln said he would interpret the
phrase "In an opening of the body" as applying only to the penis
since it is the only piece of anatomy both capably of copulation
and able to go "in" a body opening.
HE MAINTAINED, then, the state sodomy statute says
nothing about sex between two women.
Sodomy is punishable in other states by 5 years to life
imprisonment, Crompton said. Illinois led the nation in 1962 in
dropping the statute for "consenting adults in private" and
Oregon, Colorado, Connecticut and Idaho have since made the
same provision, he said.
The law originated in the 6th century Code of Justinian, and
homsexuality was thought of as a "religious crime," Crompton
explained. The word itself comes from the Biblical story of
Sodom and Gamora, he said.
DESPITE THIS LAW, Crompton said, the recent judicial trend
is "affirming the right of homosexuals to work."
He said Judge Julius Hoffman told the Chicago post office
they could not fire an employee who was an admitted
homosexual.
However, a federal court recently reversed the decision of a
lower court and reaffirmed the right of the University of
Minnesota to refuse to hire Mike McConnel as a librarian,
according to a legal publication, U.S. Law Week.
MCCONNEL AND JACK BAKER are the first legally married
same-sex couple.
The decision said McConneFs activism made it, in the opinion
of the court, more than an employment suit.
It read: 'This is not a case involving mere homosexual
propensities on the part of a prospective employee. . . .It is
instead, a case in which. . .the prospective employee demands. .
.the right to pursue an activist role in implementing his
unconventional ideas concerning the societal status to be
accredited homosexuals."
Tomorrow: The Lincoln community's reaction to gay people.
Draft Dodgers. .
Continued from page 3.
special student deferment
while at the University.
Once again he was ordered
to report and again appealed.
He asked for a family
deferment because his wife was
pregnant.
Norton was indicted in May
1971 along with other
Nebraskans, including Dale
Techner of Albion and Kirk
Johnson of Lincoln, now living
in Winnipeg.
'The uncertainty bothered
us a lot at first," said Norton's
wite, the former Sylvia Maline.
"We kept hoping for a legal
way out. But once it was final,
we both felt relieved.
"WE ARE sorry that Paul
cannot visit the U.S. -especially
as his parents are getting older
and it gets harder for them to
make the trip."
And that's another story in
itself.
Next: Their feelings about
returning to America and their
parents' reactions to their
exile.
Daily Nebraskan Classifieds may be placed in Room 34 Nebraska Union between 9:00 AM
and 5:00 PM daily weekdays. Cost for one ad is $.08 per word ($.80 minimum) for one
insertion. Call 472 2590 for more information, or use the above form and bring it into the
office. No refunds. No complimentary ads unless the error is brought to our attention within
the firs business day after publication.
FOR SALE
1963 H O Sportster CH, Good
mechanically. Reasonable offar
$800. 466-4887.
26" French bika. $35. 434-0961
evenings.
Panasonic component stereo. Like
new--7 months old. $95.
475-6647.
Stereo Components Discounts.
Nationally Advertised Brands.
Special Sale. Ampex AMFM
Stereo Receiver Lit-$250,
now $155. Memorax Cassette
Tape. C-60-$1.70. 466-0930.
New car battery. 24 month
guarantee $15.00. 466-4662.
Antique wire rim frames large
selection cheap. Call Mark
435-7632.
1948 Packard Hearse. Chevy
engine. Must sell, best offer over
$125. 432-0023, 1125 N. 25th.
Hardtop for a TR-3 Triumph. 525
. S. 48th St. 488-5977.
1969 Camero convertible. 4 -speed.
477-6654 after 5 p.m.
'69 VW Bug-In excellent condition.
Call 435-2563.
Prestige Gifts. Cliffs Smoke Shop.
12th &O St.
Pre-recorded 8-track tapes.
Guaranteed lowest prices
anywhere. Special now-J.C.
Superstar. Call 475-2255 after
4:00 p.m.
HELP WANTED
OVERSEAS JOBS FOR
STUDENTS Australia, Europe,
S. America, Africa, etc. All
professions and occupations.
One word
best describes
the taste
of beer...
it's on
the tip of
your tongue.
WHEN YOU SAY
YOU'VE SAD IT ALL!
ANHEUSER-BUSCH, INC. ST. LOUIS
Budweiser.
$700 to $3000 monthly.
Expenses paid, overtime,
sightseeing. Free
Information Write, Job
Oversees, Dept. D6 Box 15071,
San Diego, CA. 92115.
LAWYERS needed In Vista. See
recruiter Nov. 18 & 19, Law
Placement.
LOCAL COMPANY NEEDS FOUR
COLLEGE MEN TO WORK
OVER CHRISTMAS
VACATION AND PART TIME.
488-4414.
EARN MONEY PART TIME
PROMOTING STUDENT
TRAVEL PACKAGES.
INQUIRIES TO: American
Student Travel Assoc. 27 Mass.
Ave. Boston, Mass 02115
617-536-7836. .
CAMPUS REPS: Opportunity for
sharp business-minded student
to earn top cash and get
unparalleled experience working
for self on campus. Start
immediately. Send brief resume
and phone number to: Mr. C. R.
Danforth, Box 75, Swampscott,
MA 01907.
SERVICES
Sewing and Alterations. Call Pat
Moore. 799-2615.
Watch Repair. AM makes including
Timex. Campus Bookstore East
side, look for yellow door.
Women's Information Line.
Monday Saturday 7-11 P.M.
472-2584-A FRIENDLY EAR
AWAITS.
FOUND
Found: Set of keys at 16th and P,
Wed., Nov. 17, 1971. Call
489-4773.
fit
Budweiset
1 'StfaAtwt'-'Z&tiaf A
C'',';ttii!S((.
&?M-i 1? '"
J3liX5 -.
" '
1
472-2500
472-2509
4722590
FOR RENT
Available Jenuary 1st. House
comfortable for four. 1253 S.
23rd. 475. 0014.
ROOMMATE WANTED
Female roommate wanted 1747 F
$49. 475-0815 or 471-1406.
PERSONALS
Anyone knowing the whereabouts
of Shawn Johnston please call
475-0200.
MISCELLANEOUS
Californlan desires deaf and dumb
nymphonamiac who owns liquor
store or female roommate that
can cook. Waivers accepted.
Mod. apt; waterbeds; fringe ,
benefits; no rent; share expenses.
Call evenings 475-0484.
Interview for Union Program
Council. On Sunday Nov. 21,
apply in Rm. 128 Union by
Friday Nov. 19.
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
FABULOUS 50's FILM
FROLIC-ORGY. Bring pillows
and blankets. Union
Ballroom Frl. and Sat nite
from 6-12:30. Admission $1.25.
Limited seating capacity tickets
on sale now in Union.
Attention CORNHUSKER Sales
Representatives. . .Final money
turn-in Thursday November
18th. Bring money to the
CORNHUSKER office between
8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Need Nebraska-Hawaii football
tickets will pay good price. Call
489-2149 5-10 p.m.
(
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1971
THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
PAGE 7