the use of the word sodomy to describe homosexual sexual activity is offensive - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

needshelp · 29th Dec 2011, 11:37 AM

there was an incident that happened yesterday or on tuesday in brooklyn where a man impersonating a police officer raped a 15 year old boy on the subway. i just happened to see the news report on it and it showed a flyer of the suspect with the words right above the sketch of him "wanted for sodomy". then i thought to myself and realized that sodomy is mainly used to describe homosexual sexual activity even though sodomy is any sexual activity that isn't vaginal intercourse. i also thought about how sodomy as in homosexual sexual activity is actually against the law in many states whether it's consensual or not. hell, even the word sodomy and the word that it was derived from has a negative meaning and history towards it. to use that word pretty much insults the gay community and it shows the ignorance of the government. last time i remember, any form of sexual activity in where there's a nonconsensual party involved was rape. nevermind the gender involved. the nypd couldn't even see this?

Emberstone · 29th Dec 2011, 11:39 AM

the word has many meanings. the biblical meaning is "one who turns away from God", which accurately applies to the kind of people who say the word means "homosexual sex".

needshelp · 29th Dec 2011, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emberstone

the word has many meanings. the biblical meaning is "one who turns away from God", which accurately applies to the kind of people who say the word means "homosexual sex".

well, most people use it in one of those two senses. this is why i can't get down with religion for that matter.

jargon · 29th Dec 2011, 12:42 PM

Where was this? I thought "sodomy" was out as a legal term when "sodomy laws" against gay sex were dropped. I suppose the media doesnt have to use legal terms if they don't want to. But I agree, putting consensual homosexual sex in a category with rape, bestiality, etc is pretty clearly a cheap shot on gay people, in my opinion.

Mad Man L · 29th Dec 2011, 01:04 PM

'Sodomy' legally refers to anal sex between any two person(s) (whether it be M->F or M->M). Well, at least it does here, because anal sex under 18 (regardless of the role) in my state is illegal. Woo, backwards government ftw. Biblical meanings mean shit all, if you ask Average Joe what sodomy meant, they'd say anal sex.

I'd say you're looking into it too much. It could be implied that it was rape.

**Mogget** · 29th Dec 2011, 01:59 PM

Legally, sodomy in the US has been used to refer to both anal and oral sex. It's definitely an offensive term to use, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it's still the legally correct term for certain acts.

As Ember says, biblically it refers to turning away from God's laws. If Ezekiel 16:49 is to be trusted, the sin of Sodom was pride and failure to care for the poor.

Emberstone · 29th Dec 2011, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mogget

Legally, sodomy in the US has been used to refer to both anal and oral sex. It's definitely an offensive term to use, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it's still the legally correct term for certain acts.

As Ember says, biblically it refers to turning away from God's laws. If Ezekiel 16:49 is to be trusted, the sin of Sodom was pride and failure to care for the poor.

and if pat robertson is to be trusted (HA!), then sodamey means 'doing it up the duffer.'

Hexagon · 29th Dec 2011, 03:41 PM

"i also thought about how sodomy as in homosexual sexual activity is actually against the law in many states whether it's consensual or not."

Since when is homosexual activity against the law in the US?

Zontar · 29th Dec 2011, 03:42 PM

The modern legal context of sodomy post-Lawrence is usually forcible.

Forcible sodomy, involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, whatever your district calls it, is distinct from standard rape in some jurisdictions. The poster you saw is almost certainly an APB notifying the public that this man is wanted for forcible sodomy, not consensual sodomy (which is not constitutional in the US).

AngelicDemonic · 30th Dec 2011, 09:47 PM

I've always heard "sodomy" used for anything that wasn't M/F dick/vag sex.

Any more most of the laws are repealed and people with sodomy records for otherwise consentual sex records expunged(right word?)

Honestly it's kind of stupid, because... It's all sex. there's nothing less natural about oral or fingering(/handjobs) or anal, than vaginal sex.

Gravity · 31st Dec 2011, 11:44 AM

I think, as people have been saying already, that here it's being used in a more legal context, usually regarding non-consensual anal sex. Men generally have a very hard time reporting that they've been raped or identifying as survivors of rape, and so "sodomy" somehow becomes more acceptable because it doesn't identify them as survivors of an experience that's thought to happen to women. Truly messed up, but I suspect that's part of why the word is used in such a case.

I agree, though, that identifying "sodomy" as a crime is rather insulting to gay people.

Or, for that matter, to anyone who likes something other than hetero missionary sex. Not that many of them realize it.

29th Dec 2011, 11:37 AM	#1
needshelp really likes you Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: out to some, not family and friends though Location: in a closet near you Age: 25 Posts: 691 Join Date: Sep 2011	the use of the word sodomy to describe homosexual sexual activity is offensive there was an incident that happened yesterday or on tuesday in brooklyn where a man impersonating a police officer raped a 15 year old boy on the subway. i just happened to see the news report on it and it showed a flyer of the suspect with the words right above the sketch of him "wanted for sodomy". then i thought to myself and realized that sodomy is mainly used to describe homosexual sexual activity even though sodomy is any sexual activity that isn't vaginal intercourse. i also thought about how sodomy as in homosexual sexual activity is actually against the law in many states whether it's consensual or not. hell, even the word sodomy and the word that it was derived from has a negative meaning and history towards it. to use that word pretty much insults the gay community and it shows the ignorance of the government. last time i remember, any form of sexual activity in where there's a nonconsensual party involved was rape. nevermind the gender involved. the nypd couldn't even see this? Last edited by needshelp; 29th Dec 2011 at 11:40 AM..

29th Dec 2011, 11:39 AM	#2
Emberstone Flappychap Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Oregon, USA Age: 28 Posts: 5,599 Join Date: May 2008	Re: the use of the word sodomy to describe homosexual sexual activity is offensive the word has many meanings. the biblical meaning is "one who turns away from God", which accurately applies to the kind of people who say the word means "homosexual sex". __________________ TYPE YOUR NAME: Cory. TYPE YOUR NAME WITH YOUR ELBOW: vcoiptryu SLAM YOUR FACE ON THE KEYBOARD: About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him - and I didn't know how potent that part might be - that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

29th Dec 2011, 12:42 PM	#4
jargon Well Known Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Bisexual Out Status: A few people Location: New England Age: 21 Posts: 173 Join Date: Nov 2011	Re: the use of the word sodomy to describe homosexual sexual activity is offensive Where was this? I thought "sodomy" was out as a legal term when "sodomy laws" against gay sex were dropped. I suppose the media doesnt have to use legal terms if they don't want to. But I agree, putting consensual homosexual sex in a category with rape, bestiality, etc is pretty clearly a cheap shot on gay people, in my opinion.

29th Dec 2011, 01:04 PM	#5
Mad Man L EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Bisexual Out Status: All but family Location: Brisbane, Australia Age: 16 Posts: 1,244 Join Date: Jul 2011	Re: the use of the word sodomy to describe homosexual sexual activity is offensive 'Sodomy' legally refers to anal sex between any two person(s) (whether it be M->F or M->M). Well, at least it does here, because anal sex under 18 (regardless of the role) in my state is illegal. Woo, backwards government ftw. Biblical meanings mean shit all, if you ask Average Joe what sodomy meant, they'd say anal sex. I'd say you're looking into it too much. It could be implied that it was rape. __________________ I really should get a proper signature...

29th Dec 2011, 01:59 PM	#6
Mogget Mad and dead as nails EC Advisor Gender: Male Orientation: Kinsey 5 or 6. It varies Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Alaska Age: 22 Posts: 2,026 Join Date: Mar 2010	Re: the use of the word sodomy to describe homosexual sexual activity is offensive Legally, sodomy in the US has been used to refer to both anal and oral sex. It's definitely an offensive term to use, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it's still the legally correct term for certain acts. As Ember says, biblically it refers to turning away from God's laws. If Ezekiel 16:49 is to be trusted, the sin of Sodom was pride and failure to care for the poor. __________________ "As to what I am, I once was many things but now I am only several." - Mogget in Sabriel by Garth Nix "The world is quiet here." - VFD

29th Dec 2011, 03:41 PM	#8
Hexagon Bright Spark Full Member Gender: ?TM transguy Orientation: Panromantic Asexual Out Status: Pending review Location: Somerset, UK Age: 17 Posts: 1,051 Join Date: May 2011	Re: the use of the word sodomy to describe homosexual sexual activity is offensive "i also thought about how sodomy as in homosexual sexual activity is actually against the law in many states whether it's consensual or not." Since when is homosexual activity against the law in the US? __________________ When god has low self-esteem, does that make him an atheist?

29th Dec 2011, 03:42 PM	#9
Zontar Mister Funny Man Full Member Gender: Male Location: Binghampton, NY Posts: 1,539 Join Date: Oct 2010	Re: the use of the word sodomy to describe homosexual sexual activity is offensive The modern legal context of sodomy post-Lawrence is usually forcible. Forcible sodomy, involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, whatever your district calls it, is distinct from standard rape in some jurisdictions. The poster you saw is almost certainly an APB notifying the public that this man is wanted for forcible sodomy, not consensual sodomy (which is not constitutional in the US). __________________ Get up and open your eyes...Don't ever let yourself ever fall down... Get through it and learn how to fly...I know you'll find a way...today. -Days of the New, "Dirty Road" Last edited by Zontar; 29th Dec 2011 at 03:45 PM..

30th Dec 2011, 09:47 PM	#10
AngelicDemonic Fire? Regular Member Gender: Girlygirl Orientation: Boobs nod Out Status: Ask, I tell. Location: PA Age: 13 Posts: 123 Join Date: Jul 2011	Re: the use of the word sodomy to describe homosexual sexual activity is offensive I've always heard "sodomy" used for anything that wasn't M/F dick/vag sex. Any more most of the laws are repealed and people with sodomy records for otherwise consentual sex records expunged(right word?) Honestly it's kind of stupid, because... It's all sex. there's nothing less natural about oral or fingering(/handjobs) or anal, than vaginal sex. __________________ Toi et moi sommes pareils, tout comme la Terre et le Ciel; une seule famille sous le Soleil.

31st Dec 2011, 11:44 AM	#11
Gravity EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Arizona Age: 31 Posts: 642 Join Date: Nov 2011	Re: the use of the word sodomy to describe homosexual sexual activity is offensive I think, as people have been saying already, that here it's being used in a more legal context, usually regarding non-consensual anal sex. Men generally have a very hard time reporting that they've been raped or identifying as survivors of rape, and so "sodomy" somehow becomes more acceptable because it doesn't identify them as survivors of an experience that's thought to happen to women. Truly messed up, but I suspect that's part of why the word is used in such a case. I agree, though, that identifying "sodomy" as a crime is rather insulting to gay people. Or, for that matter, to anyone who likes something other than hetero missionary sex. Not that many of them realize it. __________________ "If you didn't think it would hurt your reputation, what would you choose?"

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