I don’t have any details, but Rebecca Covell just sent an e-mail telling me that Judge Jerry Buchmeyer has died.
For this who don’t know, Judge Buchmeyer, back in the 1980s, was the judge who first ruled that Texas sodomy law prohibiting consensual sexual contact between adults was unconstitutional. It was in honor of his ruling (and to escape the oppressive heat of June in Texas) that the Dallas Pride parade was first moved to September.
Unfortunately, Judge Buchmeyer’s ruling was later overturned by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and it wasn’t until the U.S. Supreme Court in Lawrence v. Texas in 2003 that we finally got rid of the sodomy law.
According to Rebecca’se-mail, a private memorial service is being held in Austin. A public memorial service is being planned for Dallas. More details when I know them.
(Thanks for the heads up Rebecca)
