Gay Sex Ban Argued in Montana

Montana lawmakers heard testimony Tuesday regarding a law still on the books criminalizing sexual intercourse between people of the same gender.

A bill introduced last week by state senator Tim Facey would finally remove the language from the law, 14 years after the Montana supreme court ruled the law unconstitutional in Gryczan v. the State of Montana, according to KRTV News.

Linda Gryczan, the plaintiff in that case, said "I don't know anyone who believes I belong in prison for 10 years or owe the state $50,000 for the crime of loving a woman. This law is unconstitutional, it has been proven unconstitutional. Please remove it from our books."

Those in favor of keeping the law say the court overstepped its boundaries in 1997 and that the law is necessary to allow law enforcement agencies prosecute rape involving people of the same sex.