Pharyngula::Stand up for Lonnie Latham

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Thursday, January 05, 2006

Stand up for Lonnie Latham

PZ Myers • 80 Comments (last page)

DefCon reports on a "dog bites man" story. This stuff isn't surprising anymore.

An executive committee member of the Southern Baptist Convention, and an outspoken opponent of homosexuality, was arrested on Tuesday night after propositioning a male police officer.

Oh dear.

From the Associated Press:

Lonnie Latham, senior pastor at South Tulsa Baptist Church, was booked into Oklahoma County Jail Tuesday night on a misdemeanor charge of offering to engage in an act of lewdness, police Capt. Jeffrey Becker said. Latham was released on $500 bail Wednesday afternoon.

Latham, who has spoken out against homosexuality, asked the officer to join him in his hotel room for oral sex. Latham was arrested and his 2005 Mercedes automobile was impounded, Becker said.

My first thought wasn't that it was shocking that a Baptist anti-gay crusader wanted illicit sexual release, but to wonder that it is apparently illegal to simply ask for oral sex in Oklahoma. Is it coercive? Are Oklahomans all so flamingly gay (but repressed) that they can't just say no?

I say, Free Lonnie Latham! He's a martyr to the suppression of the rights of gay men in Oklahoma!

Trackback url: http://pharyngula.org/index/trackback/3674/uzGxquQr/

Comments:

#56454: — 01/05 at 01:21 PM
Are Oklahomans all so flamingly gay (but repressed) that they can't just say no? Is that how Oral Roberts got his name?

#56456: — 01/05 at 01:27 PM
Why do all these homosexuals keep sucking my cock?

#56457: just john — 01/05 at 01:33 PM
I say, Free Lonnie Latham! He's a martyr to the suppression of the rights of gay men in Oklahoma!

That would be a fun protest to undertake, but as the story says, he's already free.

I take it the bust was more of a please-don't-do-that-HERE operation than a serious anti-gay crackdown. I mean, it sounds like the same sort of thing they'd do to a hetero john.

#56462: — 01/05 at 01:42 PM
Latham was arrested and his 2005 Mercedes automobile was impounded, Becker said.

2005 Mercedes, eh? He must also be getting the Jim and Tammy-Faye blessings from the Lord package.

#56464: The Chemist — 01/05 at 01:43 PM
I'd guess that he offered the cop money in exchange for the desired services. That's (I think) more serious than just asking.

My first thought was that this was funny.

#56465: — 01/05 at 01:53 PM
That's what repression breeds. Had Latham been free to date guys back in high school, with no fear of persecution or hellfire, he'd probably be a happy, functional, productive member of the society today.

#56467: — 01/05 at 02:05 PM
There's no mention of money involved.

Or is it that asking for money in exchange for performing oral sex is solicitation, but offering money in exchange for performing oral sex isn't?

#56471: Andrew Brown — 01/05 at 02:20 PM
I'll join you on the picket line for this one.

#56475: Babbler — 01/05 at 02:33 PM
The police officers were investigating complaints about male prostitution in the area. I guess if a man approaches you to have sex in a hotel in area known for it male prostitutes, he could assume there going to be exchange of money afterwords. Although, I would think that little to hasty to draw to that conclusion.

BTW, a Google search of "lewdness" (http://www.google.com/search?q=lewdness+) bring up a 'Christian Answers' website, and story about another minster caught with a man.

#56476: — 01/05 at 02:45 PM
The Daily Oklahoman online newspaper says money wasn't brought up - he'd have been charged with "solicitation" if it had been. I'll bet that exactly the same statute would be used if the cop had been female.

And he was there on a "prayer ministry," too. Well, something with kneeling involved, anyway.

http://newsok.com/article/1724872/?template=home/main

Trackback: Anti-gay Southern Baptist Pastor arrested for soliciting male prostitute. Tracked on: Stupid Evil Bastard (63.247.139.55) at 2006 01 05 14:55:03
It's the sort of news item that seems to pop up like clockwork these days. Another outspoken anti-gay conservative known for claiming homosexuality can be cured is caught trying to get his gay on by the police. Lonnie Latham, senior pastor at South Tulsa Baptist Church, was booked into Oklahoma County Jail Tuesday night on a misdemeanor charge of offering to engage in an act of lewdness, police Capt. Jeffrey Becker said. Latham was released on $500 bail Wednesday afternoon. Latham, who has……

#56482: — 01/05 at 03:02 PM
That's funny -- that was my reaction too. I wondered, how to people ever manage to have sex if they aren't allowed to ask each other for it?

#56489: Mithras — 01/05 at 03:17 PM
I had the same reaction as well.

Also I'm wondering whether and why Tulsa has undercover police officers devoted to cracking down on such behavior.

#56490: — 01/05 at 03:18 PM
CrackWilding - in Oklahoma, at least, you have to ask if you can buy 'em a beer first.

#56495: — 01/05 at 03:38 PM
From the Tulsa statutes:

Lewdness. The term "lewdness" as used in this code shall be construed to include:
1. Any lascivious, lustful or licentious conduct; or
2. The giving or receiving of the body for indiscriminate sexual intercourse, fellatio, cunnilingus, masturbation, anal intercourse, or lascivious, lustful or licentious
conduct with any person not his or her spouse; or
3. Any act in furtherance of such conduct or any appointment or engagement for prostitution.

Tulsa Ord. No. 19128 (Title 27, Chapter 6, Sec. 604) states that "It shall be an offense for any person to engage in prostitution or lewdness," with punishment to be no less than thirty days and no more than six months in jail.

This is a pretty typical example of a pretty typical law, though it's none the less a bad law for that. Consensual sodomy laws live on in some (non-Model Penal Code) states, although they've been subject to intermittently successful vagueness attacks. (And, in fact, the MPC's laws on homosexual solicitation are unconstitutional under Lawrence.) These sorts of arrests happen infrequently, and sometimes state courts strike them down because, well, what the hell is "indiscrimate sexual intercourse," anyway? (All together now: "I don't know, but where can I get some?")

Leaving aside vagueness, a Lawrence attack on this law might have some validity, but, hey, it's Tulsa, so good luck. The nice thing about Oklahoma is that it gives Texas a good name.

#56499: — 01/05 at 03:57 PM
Wakboth wrote on 01/05 at 01:53 PM

"Had Latham been free to date guys back in high school, with no fear of persecution or hellfire, he'd probably be a happy, functional, productive member of the society today."

And the decor in his house would be FABULOUS.

#56506: — 01/05 at 04:07 PM
I swear that The Onion had a story just like this a month ago called "Anti-Homosexuality Sermon Suspiciously Well Informed." I guess this is just life imitating art.

I think that the "lewdness" mentioned here might be similar to sexual harrassment. In other words, if I walk up to a woman on the street ask her to perform oral sex on me, I could be charged with an act of lewdness, whereas asking a close female friend after we'd both had a few drinks would not be considered lewd.

Of course, I think it would be hilarious if the whole thing was a misunderstanding along these lines:

Officer: "I need to see your license and registration, sir."

Latham: "I don't have to give you my license, and if you have a problem with that, blow me."

Well, maybe not quite as funny as if he actually was soliciting gay sex.

#56508: — 01/05 at 04:18 PM
Mithras: Also I'm wondering whether and why Tulsa has undercover police officers devoted to cracking down on such behavior.

Maybe they're copying the Sarasota, FL porn theater patrol. Ask Pee-Wee Herman.

#56509: Michael Hopkins — 01/05 at 04:20 PM
His church now has a statement.

#56514: — 01/05 at 05:00 PM
Aside from the question of how asking for a blow job gets you arrested, I'm mostly enjoying the fact that this guy probably lobbied for these very laws and crackdowns. Hoist by his own petard, basically.

Of course, laughing at these people is admittedly a lot of fun, but at the same time I think he's just another gay guy who's life has been hurt by the rampant homophobia of our culture. Every gay group or bar for 100 miles should send him an honest invitation to one of their mixers. He's accidentally outed himself, so let's show him how nice it is outside.

#56515: — 01/05 at 05:02 PM

Maybe they're copying the Sarasota, FL porn theater patrol. Ask Pee-Wee Herman.

Seriously. What did they expect to find people doing in there?

#56520: — 01/05 at 05:39 PM
I choose to think of the Anti-Homosexual Crusaders as simply self-loathing and deeply closeted. Its the only way I can make sense of their behavior.

#56524: Ereshkigal — 01/05 at 06:12 PM
WatchfulBabbler, those Tulsa ordinances have no effect outside Tulsa city limits. Latham was arrested in Oklahoma City, in Oklahoma County.

City ordinances are rarely the basis of arrests, since municipal court isn't a particularly good venue to try most cases (it's pretty good for trying parking violations or trespassing by skateboarders, though). Most likely, Latham was arrested under Oklahoma state statutes.

#56550: — 01/05 at 08:41 PM
I'm *sure* he was just doing a deep-cover operation to find homosexuals and bring them to the Lord. Nothing untoward... just two men kneeling and being covered in the bounty of the Lord, exulting in the ecstasy of the spirit.....

Ok, I'll stop.

I wonder how many "Barney Fag" jokes this individual has made over the years.

PS- my submittal word is "sperm".

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