Texas House Advances Repeal of Gay Conduct Ban

The Texas House of Representatives voted 59-56 to repeal the state's defunct 1973 law banning 'homosexual conduct,' following a preliminary 72-55 approval. House Bill 1738, authored by Rep. Venton Jones, received bipartisan support, including from 12 Republicans such as Rep. Brian Harrison. The statute was rendered unenforceable by the U.S. Supreme Court's 2003 Lawrence v. Texas decision but remained in state law, raising concerns about potential misuse. Supporters framed the repeal as a civil liberties issue and a move to limit government overreach, while critics warned of risks if the Supreme Court's decision were ever reversed. The bill now moves to the more conservative Texas Senate before the legislative session ends June 2, with its prospects uncertain. The repeal effort would finally remove the unenforceable criminal penalty for consensual same-sex relations but leaves other controversial statutory language intact.