In the United States Constitution, our 14th amendment states that “[no state shall] deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the laws” (Dictionary.com). The case Lawrence vs Texas, which started in 1998, in Harris County, was a case that was deeply investigating homosexual’s 14th amendment. It all began when four law enforcement officers were responding to a false call about a person armed with a firearm. After arriving at the house and going in they encountered John Lawrence and Tyron Garner engaging in "deviate sexual intercourse, namely anal sex, with a member of the same sex" (supreme.justia.com). According to the Texas sexual offenses a “deviate sexual [act]” is stated in the “Texas Penal Code Title 5. Offenses against the Person Chapter 21. Sexual Offences” that:
“(A) any contact between any part of the genitals of one person and the mouth or anus of another person; or
(B) the penetration of the genitals or the anus of another person with an object." 21.01(1).”
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Lawrence and Mr. Garner were taken to court and fined, Mr. Lawrence argued the “Homosexual Conduct Law” unconstitutional and wanted to take it to trial. Lambda Legal quickly sought to help the two men. Along with that protestors were arguing that the ruling went against 14th amendment of the United States Constitution, which states, that every citizen should receive equal rights. Taking the case to court of appeals, where they had decided to consider the Bowers vs. Hardwick case after having a split vote. Which ruled that the 14th amendment does not apply to homosexuals. The Supreme Court granted a certiorari to answer the question if the rulings for other cases against homosexual’s equality had gone against the fourteenth amendment, if Bowers vs Hardwick should be overturned, and if homosexuals should have privacy in their own