Oklahoma Legislators Seek Change In Sodomy Law After Ruling

Outraged Oklahoma lawmakers say they'll move quickly to change a loophole in the state's forcible sodomy law after the state's highest criminal court found it doesn't apply to cases where the victim is unconscious or intoxicated.

Per Capita, Oklahoma is 14^th in the nation for reported rapes.

Senior Director for Sexual Violence Prevention and Response at the Oklahoma YWCA says it’s a ranking that will, “continue to exist in our community so long as we continue to blame victims and not hold perpetrators accountable.”

And according to the YWCA, 25 percent of women in Oklahoma have experienced rape in their lifetime.

Rep. Scott Biggs said Thursday he is drafting language that legislators could consider as early as next week.

Oklahoma's highest criminal court ruled unanimously last month that while the state's rape law addresses unconscious or intoxicated victims, the forcible sodomy law does not. The court said it could not expand the "fair meaning" of the law to justify someone's prosecution.

The ruling came after a 17-year-old boy was accused in Tulsa County District Court of sexually assaulting a girl after a night of drinking. A lower court judge had dismissed the case last year.

“If we can’t stand up for victims like this, we need to reassess the direction we’re taking the state,” said Rep. Biggs.