There are a number of strange sex laws in the United States that will shock you, especially since our current views on relationships and sexuality are far more open than in the past. The laws of the olden days reflect just how much the world has changed, shifting away from a place where regulations prohibit many strange sexual acts to a place where strange fetishes are being openly embraced. While these laws are not actively enforced anymore, they remain in existence and in the records. Here are some of the odd sex regulations that governed 8 different states in America.
1. Connorsville, Wisconsin: No Gunfire During Female Orgasms
In Connorsville, Wisconsin, it is illegal for a man to discharge a firearm when his female partner is experiencing an orgasm. This strange law has left many puzzled as they wonder how such a law, which seems more like a humorous joke to keep a romantic moment uninterrupted, came into existence. It might be possible that the lawmakers intended to prevent celebratory gunfire, which could cause harm.
2. Florida: No Relations with Porcupines
It is very strange that lawmakers were so concerned with humans performing sexual acts on porcupines that they enacted a law against it in Florida. In Florida, it is illegal to engage in sexual relations with a porcupine. This law is one of the most absurd and disturbing examples of animal-related legislation. The origin of the law is unclear, but it seems as if something very troubling was occurring during that time and the lawmakers saw it necessary to enact the law to protect both people and animals from such interactions.
3. Washington State: No Sex with Virgins, Even on the Wedding Night
Believe it or not, it is technically illegal to engage in sexual relations with a virgin in Washington State. According to this odd law, regardless of the circumstances, including a wedding night, no one should be having sexual relations with a virgin. The bizarre law is puzzling, as it is hard to imagine how newlyweds would be intimate if either partner is a virgin since they are prohibited from consummating their marriage.
4. Ventura County, California: Pets Need a Permit for Mating
It was made illegal for cats and dogs to engage in sexual activities in Ventura County, California. The law details that pet owners must obtain a permit for their cats or dogs to engage in sexual activities, which was apparently enacted to control pet populations and prevent stray animals.
5. Utah: First Cousins Can Marry Only After 65
In Utah, it is illegal for first cousins to marry each other unless they’re over the age of 65. In some parts of the world, cousins marrying each other is permitted without age limitations, but it is claimed that this limitation is to prevent genetic issues due to the concerns regarding their offspring. It seems that the law suggests that the state considers the union safer after reproductive years have mostly passed.
6. Washington, D.C.: Only Missionary Position is Allowed
In Washington, D.C., it is illegal to engage in any sexual position other than missionary, which is absurd. This law is of course not actively enforced, and it would be extremely difficult for the government to enforce it. While in the olden days the law, which was possibly based on traditional views of morality, might have been effective, today such a law is impractical and intrusive.
7. Ames, Iowa: Limited Beer Consumption in Bed
Ames, Iowa, has a law dictating that husbands are restricted from taking more than three sips of beer while in bed with their wives. It is hard to imagine how the lawmakers came up with such a law and even harder to grasp how they would enforce it. While the origin of the law is unknown, it can be speculated that the law served to prevent drunken behaviour in the marital bed or to promote responsible drinking.
8. Georgia: No Sex for Unmarried Couples
In the state of Georgia, there is a law that prohibits unmarried couples from engaging in sexual intercourse. The law is no doubt a reflection of when states tried to regulate personal relationships based on societal expectations around marriage. Although it’s hardly enforced today and some might see it as an infringement on personal freedom, the law stands as a relic of a different era.
Why Do These Laws Still Exist?
Many of these strange laws are outdated and are not enforced today. Although no one acknowledges these laws, they have remained in the records simply because they have never been repealed since they are mostly not causing an issue. There are times when outdated laws get challenged in court or repealed when they attract media attention or when a legal challenge demands their removal.