Louisiana: Men Arrested Under Unconstitutional Sodomy Law

Two men were arrested in Louisiana earlier this month under the state's law barring "unnatural carnal copulation" between two people of the same gender.

The unnamed men were arrested after engaging in sexual activity in a car, and charged under the law, even thought it was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court 12 years ago under the landmark case, Lawrence v. Texas.

Following the incident, Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie issued a reminder to officers to stop arresting people under that statute, according to The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.).

A district judge threw out those charges, but the police department will move forward with charging the men with trespassing in the park.

The Advocate (Baton Rouge) launched an investigation after a police sting with the intention of enforcing the sodomy law in 2013, where no actual sex took place. The newspaper found that the law to "ensnare men who discussed or agreed to have consensual sex with an undercover agent" in at least 12 cases.