Lawsuit Claims Crime Against Nature is Unconstitutional
On February 11, 2011, WWAV joined with attorneys to file a federal civil rights suit in New Orleans on behalf of nine anonymous plaintiffs convicted under Louisiana’s Crime Against Nature law and forced to register as sex offenders as a result. See below for story on ABC.com, including video coverage.
___________________________________________________________________________
Lawsuit Claims Crime Against Nature is Unconstitutional
By Anne Cutler, WGNO News
February 16, 2011
NEW ORLEANS — A civil rights lawsuit claims Louisiana’s crime against nature statute is unconstitutional. The lawsuit was filed today on behalf of 9 plaintiffs who had to register as sex offenders because of crime against nature convictions.
When someone’s accused of soliciting sex, they can be charged with crime against nature or prostitution. The only difference in the crime is the type of sexual act, but the penalties are vastly different. Prostitution is a misdemeanor while crime against nature requires that person to register as a sex offender. Advocates say it leads to discriminatory enforcement and this lawsuit could bring Louisiana closer to overturning the statute.
These convictions are very common. Lawyers say 40% of the sex offenders in New Orleans are listed as such, because of a crime against nature conviction.
