Today in Gay History - 12/7/11: Harsh Sodomy laws, Willa Cather, 7-0 against GSA and more

[WillParkinson]

December 7

1682 - The Province of Pennsylvania, under a strong Quaker influence, repealed the capital sodomy law of 1676. The new law made a first offense punishable by whipping, loss of 1/3 of one's property, and six months hard labor. A second offense was punishable by life imprisonment. The revision made the province one of only two where a man could not be put to death for sodomy at the time. In West New Jersey, also a Quaker colony, no sodomy law was in effect.

1873 - Author Willa Cather is born.

1916 - The manager of a New York City Turkish bathhouse for men committed suicide after vice police raided the establishment and arrested 37 men.

1989 - In Turkey, journalist Ibrehim Eren was imprisoned for protesting police harassment of gays. He would be held for four months.

1993 - In Texas, Williamson County commissioners reversed a decision to deny Apple Computer tax breaks for a new facility in the county because of its policy of extending benefits to employees' same-sex domestic partners. Several of the commissioners, however, continued to express condemnation of "the gay lifestyle."

1997- Speaking before a Georgetown University audience of about 300, three Jesuits presented their different perspectives on how the church should regard and spiritually counsel gay men and lesbians. Cardinal James A Hickey objected to the debate because he felt that the conservative view on the wrongness of homosexuality would not get a fair hearing.

1999 - The school board in Orange California voted 7-0 to reject an application from students at El Modena High School to form a gay/straight alliance.

[William769]

1. Thanks for posting.

Recommended.

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. Rec. I wonder if that's Orange *County* , Cal ?

Or is it a small town?

In any case, it sounds like GSAs have come a long way in a relatively short time.

[xchrom]

3. sigh -- love, love, love willa cather. nt