Anti-Gay minister arrested for soliciting gay sex

[Easy Mac]

This confirms what we already knew, that Tim Hardaway is secretly gay.

Gay marriage critic tried on lewdness

By JEFF LATZKE, Associated Press Writer Thu Feb 22, 9:43 PM ET

OKLAHOMA CITY - The lawyer for a former Baptist church leader who had spoken out against homosexuality said Thursday the minister has a constitutional right to solicit sex from an undercover policeman.

The Rev. Lonnie W. Latham had supported a resolution calling on gays and lesbians to reject their "sinful, destructive lifestyle" before his Jan. 3, 2006, arrest outside the Habana Inn in Oklahoma City.
Authorities say he asked the undercover policeman to come up to his hotel for oral sex.
His attorney, Mack Martin, filed a motion to have the misdemeanor lewdness charge thrown out, saying the Supreme Court ruled in the 2003 decision Lawrence v. Texas that it was not illegal for consenting adults to engage in private homosexual acts.
"Now, my client's being prosecuted basically for having offered to engage in such an act, which basically makes it a crime to ask someone to do something that's legal," Martin said.
Both sides agree there was no offer of money, but prosecutor Scott Rowland said there is a "legitimate governmental interest" in regulating offers of acts of lewdness.
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American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma has filed a brief claiming that Latham's arrest also violated his right to free speech.
Before his arrest, Latham had spoken against same-sex marriage and in support of a Southern Baptist resolution that called upon gays and lesbians to reject their lifestyle.
He has since resigned as pastor of the South Tulsa Baptist Church and stepped down from the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, where he was one of four members from Oklahoma.
On Thursday Latham declined to talk to reporters at the non-jury trial.
Judge Roma M. McElwee said she would rule on the motion and issue a verdict in about two weeks. If convicted of the misdemeanor, Latham faces up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

[GrantDawg]

This stuff never shocks me any more.

[Joe]

its not gay if its only oral

[Vinatieri for Prez]

I actually hate hypocrisy like this so much worse than just a straight up anti-gay or pro-gay position.

Psychologically speaking, I believe there is some sort of self-loathing psychosis that often leads someone to agressively reject abnormal behavior they partake in. But, man, we are seeing like crazy in this area right now.

[Flasch186]

imagine that, a vocal voracious opponent of something actually is fighting their own inner demons/self loathing of the exact same activities.....The harder they fight it the more likely they are to fear their own partaking in it? hmmmm....interesting.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Vinatieri for Prez

But, man, we are seeing like crazy in this area right now.

Or else it's just a higher priority for the media than it used to be.

Doesn't change the hypocrisy element one bit, just suggesting that it may not be any more prevelant now than it has been, only that the profile is higher.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Or else it's just a higher priority for the media than it used to be.

Doesn't change the hypocrisy element one bit, just suggesting that it may not be any more prevelant now than it has been, only that the profile is higher.

Bingo.

[Flasch186]

perhaps its all not even really happening but a product of some sort of anti-preacher bias by the media.

[JPhillips]

While I think he's an ass, I hope he wins his case. The government has no business regulating behavior between consenting adults.

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by Vinatieri for Prez

I actually hate hypocrisy like this so much worse than just a straight up anti-gay or pro-gay position.

Psychologically speaking, I believe there is some sort of self-loathing psychosis that often leads someone to agressively reject abnormal behavior they partake in. But, man, we are seeing like crazy in this area right now.

It doesn't have to be hyprocisy. There is a difference between believing something to be wrong and being able to withstand temptation. Are we not all sinners?

[Easy Mac]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

While I think he's an ass, I hope he wins his case. The government has no business regulating behavior between consenting adults.

Depends on how the case progresses. It'd be an absolutely horrible prostitution sting if they didn't even get around to asking for money before they arrested him. Depends on if they can prove there was an intent or expectation of payment.

[JPhillips]

It's this line that really bothers me.

Both sides agree there was no offer of money, but prosecutor Scott Rowland said there is a "legitimate governmental interest" in regulating offers of acts of lewdness.

[John Galt]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

It's this line that really bothers me.

Exactly. I'm also curious what the police officer was undercover for. It strikes me that he wasn't undercover for a prostitution sting precisely because he would know to wait for the offer of money.

[Izulde]

I think Oklahoma might be one of the states where homosexual relations are still officially considered illegal, but I could be wrong.

Granted, it and similiar laws in some other states usually aren't enforced, but still.

[John Galt]

Originally Posted by Izulde

I think Oklahoma might be one of the states where homosexual relations are still officially considered illegal, but I could be wrong.

Granted, it and similiar laws in some other states usually aren't enforced, but still.

After Lawrence v. Texas, no state can criminalize gay sex. Laws predating the decision may remain on the books (as is normal), but they cannot be enforced.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by John Galt

After Lawrence v. Texas, no state can criminalize gay sex. Laws predating the decision may remain on the books (as is normal), but they cannot be enforced.

Ah, that explains it. Thanks for the info.

[Coder]

Just proves that many of those who lash out so hard are actually "offenders" (for lack of a better word) who are more afraid of who they are themselves...

I'm also sick of this hypocrisy.

If people are against gay sex, then go live in a hetero sexual relationship.. it's like.. hey.. I don't like peas.. I'm against everyone who like peas.. down with the peas! You eat peas? I hate you for eating peas! Peas ought to be illegal. While in all secrecy, I'm stuffing myself with peasoup, and I'm hating myself for doing it.. so it HAS to be bad.

[EagleFan]

I thought everyone already knew... It's only wrong when someone else does it...

This should come as no surprise, the Catholic church has been against homosexuality for the longest time and look at the track record of their priests.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

This confirms what we already knew, that Tim Hardaway is secretly gay.

dola: And Jeremy Shockey too...

[Buccaneer]

As I said in the Haggard thread, nothing good ever comes out of Tulsa.

[Maple Leafs]

We'll all be praying for him during the three weeks it will take him to becone 100% straight again.

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

We'll all be praying for him during the three weeks it will take him to becone 100% straight again.

[Easy Mac]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

We'll all be praying for him during the three weeks it will take him to becone 100% straight again.

Lets hope he doesn't end up like Britney

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Originally Posted by BrianD

It doesn't have to be hyprocisy. There is a difference between believing something to be wrong and being able to withstand temptation. Are we not all sinners?

It's hypocrisy when you vociferously speak out against it. It's not when you quietly battle the temptation.

[Crim]

VfP just beat me to it, but yeah what he said.

[sooner333]

I just can't believe this guy went to the Habana Inn for this kind of activity. If you're trying to be discreet about your homosexuality, let's just say that establishment isn't exactly the place to be at in Oklahoma City. Pretty much widely known as a gay hangout.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure there are sodomy laws on the books in Oklahoma, but like mentioned, they were wiped out in the Lawrence case. As for the lewdness charges, I would like to think that it's okay, but I can kind of see the point where going around and asking strangers about wanting to go up and have oral sex could be lewd, regardless of whether the activity was homosexual or heterosexual. The question then becomes what is lewd and what is not lewd...and I think you're opening a can of worms that might be a little too big.

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by sooner333

I just can't believe this guy went to the Habana Inn for this kind of activity. If you're trying to be discreet about your homosexuality, let's just say that establishment isn't exactly the place to be at in Oklahoma City. Pretty much widely known as a gay hangout.

You hide a stone amongst stones. I think that would probably be the safest place to go because the chances of anyone recognizing you would have to be pretty low, as opposed to Mrs. Jones' Bed-and-Breakfast located on the nice side of the tracks next to your church.