The Massachusetts state Senate unanimously passed a bill Thursday to repeal several archaic criminal laws that were still on the books, including the state’s sodomy law and a law critics have dubbed the “walking while trans” law.
The bill now heads to the state House of Representatives, where it is expected to pass. “I’m just really happy that it passed.
And I hope that it will pass seamlessly in the house. There’s absolutely no reason for it not to pass,” says Tanya Neslusan, executive director of MassEquality, a leading statewide LGBTQ advocacy group.
Despite long being considered a leader in passing progressive legislation for LGBTQ rights, Massachusetts is one of 12 states that still have laws banning gay sex in its criminal statutes.