Lawrence v. Texas

Definition

Lawrence v. Texas is a landmark Supreme Court case from 2003 that invalidated sodomy laws in the United States, thereby affirming the rights to privacy and sexual autonomy of consenting adults. It overturned previous rulings, notably Bowers v. Hardwick (1986), and set a new precedent for privacy rights and LGBTQ+ legal protections.

Related terms

Sodomy Laws: Laws that criminalize certain types of sexual acts between consenting adults, historically targeting homosexual relations.

Right to Privacy:

A legal principle that protects individuals from unwarranted governmental intrusion into personal affairs and decisions.

Bowers v. Hardwick: A 1986 Supreme Court decision that upheld sodomy laws, later overturned by Lawrence v. Texas in 2003