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Lawrence v. Texas
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Aftermath

inLawrence v. Texas
Written by
Melvin I. Urofsky
Melvin I. Urofsky is Professor of Law & Public Policy and Professor Emeritus of History at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Before joining VCU as chair of the History Department in 1974, he...
Melvin I. Urofsky
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Date:
June 26, 2003
Location:
Texas
United States

Both supporters and opponents of gay rights reacted vocally to the decision, because both sides considered the maintenance or defeat of sodomy laws as central, at least symbolically, to their causes. The executive director of Lambda Legal rejoiced that the Lawrence decision “closed the door on an era of intolerance and ushered in a new era of respect and equal treatment for gay Americans.” Opposition groups looked at matters differently. A vice president of Focus on the Family, a conservative organization, attacked the court for continuing to pillage “its way through the moral norms of our country.” What both sides agreed upon, but reacted to far differently, was the belief that Lawrence would be the opening wedge in a campaign to constitutionalize same-sex marriage.

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