Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 16:48:39 +1100
From: davibuch@ozemail.com.au (David Buchanan)
Subject: What is sodomy?

An adverse finding was made against the Australian State of Tasmania in
respect of its "anti-gay laws" in the decision of the United Nations Human
Rights Committee (No.488/1992, delivered 31 March 1994, reproduced in
Australian Law Journal 1995;69(8):602-609).

The Criminal Code Act 1924 (Tas) criminalises "sexual intercourse against
the order of nature" or "unnatural sexual intercourse" (s.122).   "Sexual
intercourse" means the penetration to the least degree of the vagina, anus
or mouth by the penis, and includes the continuation of sexual intercourse
after such penetration (s.1).   (There are other offensive provisions as
well.)

It has been held by the Tasmanian Court of Criminal Appeal that "against
the order of nature" requires that there be penile pentration per anum, and
therfore fellatio is not a crime against s.122(1)(a)  -  Stingel v R [1989]
Tas R 282 (reversed on other grounds by the High Court of Australia: (1990)
171 CLR 312).

**************************************************************
David Buchanan

Forbes Chambers                            Tel: +61 2 390 7777
11/185 Elizabeth Street                    Fax: +61 2 261 4600
Sydney    NSW    2000
AUSTRALIA

**************************************************************





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