Sex outside of marriage may soon be legal in Utah

The UtahState Legislature on Tuesday passed a bill that repealed the misdemeanor crime of fornication, making sex outside of marriage legal within the state.

The House passed Senate Bill 43 with a 41-32 vote, FOX13 Salt Lake City reported. The bill is headed to Republican Gov. Gary Herbert’s desk for his signature or veto. It was unclear if he supports the bill. The bill didn’t sit well with some conservative members of the state House.

“What is legally is often far below what is morally right,” said state Republican Rep. Kevin Stratton, who objected to the bill. “And I recognize our laws are not strong enough to rule an immoral people.”

Sex between those unmarried was criminalized in 1973. The bill that passed Tuesday was part of the legislature’s efforts to clean up its criminal code, removing unenforceable laws from the books, state Republican Rep. Paul Ray told FOX13.

The Utah Legislature previously passed a bill removing adultery and sodomy among consenting adults as punishable crimes in the state, the station reported.

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Consider this aspect, this law was enacted in 1973, and is just now looking to be repealed, 46 years later.

The cost of society going backward doesn't always mean people will suddenly be motivated to work hard and fast to resolve it. It can take literal decades to get back to the original starting point.

Dude, the Mormon Church is going to screw this up. Just a fair warning!

Wow, can't believe there are still people that think this way.

So do you have any actual evidence of when it was used last? because despite what some may think a law can´t just be on the books without being used.

Even in the US, there is such a thing as desuetude.

Unfortunately, it seems Fox News didn't provide that information in it's reporting.

Hmm, wonder why it´s even news.

Unless it´s a law that has been used often, it´s not something that Fox should even bother with :)

Man, 32 legislators voted against this?

7 billion people on the planet, but sex before marriage will send you straight to hell. At least you will have plenty of company.

Repealing it shouldn't be an issue if the law isn't used. Almost 40% still want this law. I think they want it enforced...

Didn't Utah vote for Trump in 2016?

Meh, practicing what you preach is for the birds. Really dumb birds along the lines of turkeys.

You are right, it should not be an issue, which is why I questioned when it was last used. Because as mentioned a law not used for decades is subject to desuetude and it´s been confirmed by the supreme court.

So 40% may still want this law., but if no one has been convicted based on this law, well they are out of luck. :)

You would think that, but you would be surprised. In the military consensual sodomy is still banned even though Lawrence v. Texas makes it completely unenforceable, for example. But Congress has never gotten around to removing it from the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

FYI, the Ninth Circuit came to the conclusion that Lawrence v. Texas also covers adultery even though the original ruling was in response to a gay couple prosecuted for having sex in Texas and so far the Supreme Court hasn't overruled them. It is unlikely Utah would be able to enforce it even if they wanted to. The military is still allowed to punish people for adultery under a different clause claiming that allowing adultery interferes with good order and discipline in units.

lmao so backwards

Has anyone been recently arrested or imprisoned for having sex outside of marriage in Utah? Therea are a lot of silly law on the books, but most of them are not enforced. I get it, that it's frightening in the theoretical sense.

Not that I know of.

Thank the LDS Church, who always interferes with what the citizens of Utah actually vote for.

I'm never ever going to get married for a good reason and the fact I lost my virginity at a very young age, guess I'm going to Hell. Oh well.

I'm not Religion by the way and whatever happens to me, when I'm gone I'm gone. I don't care.

@davillain-: As a person who had sex before marriage I'll be glad to meet you face to face after death. That will be fun.