Early last year, Rev. Lonnie Latham, a Baptist preacher who railed against the evils of homosexuality, was arrested for inviting a male undercover cop in a seedy part of Oklahoma City up to his motel room for oral sex. Latham’s trial is underway now, and his lawyer’s opening gambit is interesting in light of the fact that many of Latham’s co-religionists would make homosexuality illegal if they could:
Latham’s 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 that there was no offer of money, but prosecutor Scott Rowland said there is a “legitimate governmental interest” in regulating offers of acts of lewdness.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma has filed a brief alleging that Latham’s arrest also violated his right to free speech.
Before his arrest on January 3, 2006, Rev. Latham was a member of the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention and preached against civil marriage rights for gays and supported a resolution calling on gays and lesbians to reject their “sinful, destructive lifestyle.”
But Rev. Latham is not on trial for hypocrisy, unfortunately, or for sleazy and stupid behavior. He’s on trial for offering legal sex to a stranger, who happened to be a cop.
If he’d made the same offer on the Internet or in a bar, rather than on a street corner, he would have gotten what he wanted without having to give up his pulpit — or his hypocrisy.
Preacher Arrested for Gay Sex Invitation Claims No Law Was Broken…
Rev. Lonnie Latham preached against civil rights for gay people before he was arrested for inviting a male undercover cop to his motel room for oral sex. Now Latham’s attorney argues that because gay sex is not illegal, no crime was committed. He has …
hypocrite!
Sounds like:
Do not do as I do. Do as I say!
What a fat head. Hypocrite, for sure.
And people wonder why I do not go to church anymore! What a JOKE! You cannot trust anyone these days! I would not let my children near any of these sick hipocrits, if you have children you can teach them the Bible at home where they are safe. Thats what I did.
Lonnie is a low-life and a BIG DOG.
But still, no criminal act took place. One side is offended Lonnie is a fundamentalist, the other side that he is gay. Both sides need to learn how to get along. God creates people gay, because it is part of His plan. His diversity is more glorious than either narrow minded approach to life. The time has come for the church to admit their error regarding homosexuality, and welcome their gay and lesbian brothers and sisters into their midsts. No growth is possible until this rift is healed.
Liberals and progressives should look past the hypocrasy of christian people to the first and best progressive, Jesus. And examine your roots; all of your (our) major causes were championed by progressive Christians. Progressives shouls not let their anomousity toward christians stand between them and Jesus.
As much as I despise these hypoChristians, I have to agree with Grello that there was no crime committed. Why are the cops prosecuting this pervy preacher? It wouldn’t seem so nice if they were doing it to an average gay cruiser, which they probably are. Laughter, not the law, is this guy’s best punishment.