Guess if you're in
Alabama and need a vibe, you better do it mail order or over the internets. :) I'm still trying to figure out how the exemptions are defined. Is a strap-on ever used for law enforcement purposes? No, I don't want to know. Paging
Roy "Ten Commandments" Moore...
AP:
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected on Tuesday a constitutional challenge to an Alabama law that makes it a crime to sell sex toys. The high court refused to hear an appeal by a group of individuals who regularly use sexual devices and by two vendors who argued the case raised important issues about the scope of the constitutional right to sexual privacy.
The law prohibited the distribution of 'any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs.' First-time violators can face a fine of up to $10,000 and as much as one year in jail.
The law, adopted in 1998, allowed the sale of ordinary vibrators and body massagers that are not designed or marketed primarily as sexual aids. It exempted sales of sexual devices 'for a bona fide medical, scientific, educational, legislative, judicial or law enforcement purpose.'
Georgia and Texas are the only other states that restrict the distribution of sexual devices, according to the court record in the case.
While I was at it, I decided to
take a look back at some of my earlier blogging on my wife's home state. The state has such an over-the-top reputation for redneck values and gay-baiting that it's an endless source of embarrassment for her. As one commenter said -- you could do a blog just on Alabama's political knuckle-dragging. Just a sampling:
Out Mag: "Is Alabama really the worst place to be a gay person in Bush's America?"There's nothing like your average, homo-hating, racist Alabama sheriffAlabama at it again: Marriage bill moves to House, anti-gay fliers put out by GOPAlabama Senate Passes Gay Marriage AmendmentAlabama holds recount on segregation language repealAlabama again: Boy Scouts padding the rolls with "John Does" for $$I am not kidding -- the head of the Alabama GOP is named Twinkle.
I do the regular LGBT News Roundup diaries here, it's no surprise that Alabama is one of the usual suspects when looking for wingnuttery. I'd say Virginia is making a good bid to overtake 'Bama in terms of bigoted legislative activity, but I think this is a race that you really don't want to win. Well, maybe they do, actually.
I just want to keep the wingnut level to tolerable levels here in NC, but I fear we've got major battles ahead with our own marriage amendment bible beaters.