Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting question.
Generally speaking, any contact between the genitals of one person, and the mouth or anus of another the acts that are commonly considered sodomy, but this is not necessarily ALL THE ACTS that comprise sodomy in the eyes of some conservative circles and is not necessarily considered sodomy at all by some liberal circles. Another school of thought shared by some circles in more recent years is that these acts may indeed be considered sodomy, but there's nothing illegal about them (but that's another topic altogether, isn't it?).
By official definition, in terms of language anyway, the act of sodomy is explained by the some recognized sources this way:
“Any of various forms of sexual intercourse held to be unnatural or abnormal, especially anal intercourse or bestiality” [are considered sodomy] DICTIONARY.COM – SODOMY
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?db=*&q=SODOMY
“Copulation with a member of the same sex or with an animal. Non-coital and especially anal or oral copulation with a member of the opposite sex” [are considered sodomy] MERRIAM-WEBSTERS DICTIONARY – SODOMY
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary
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A very informative article that specifically addresses the question “What is sodomy?” appears here:
WHAT IS SODOMY?
By Brendan I. Koerner
http://slate.msn.com/id/2075271/
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Legally speaking however, the definition of sodomy differs greatly depending on the jurisdiction you happen to be referring to. Some states for example do not call the act(s) "sodomy", per se, but by a variety of other names:
Arizona (and others): "Crime Against Nature"
Alabama: "Sexual Misconduct"
District of Columbia: "Sexual Psychopaths"
Florida: "Unnatural & Lascivious Act"
Massachusetts: "Sodomy & Buggery"
Maryland: "Unnatural or Perverted Sexual Practices"
Mississippi: "Unnatural Intercourse"
Montana: "Deviate Sexual Conduct"
Texas: "Homosexual Conduct"
Wisconsin: "Sexual Perversion"
SODOMY: WHAT IS IT?
http://www.gaylib.com/text/clas12.htm
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Here is how the various United States that still have sodomy statutes define the act(s):
ALABAMA
http://www.sodomylaws.org/usa/alabama/alabama.htm
Sexual misconduct.
(a) A person commits the crime of sexual misconduct if:
Being a male, he engages in sexual intercourse with a female without her consent, under circumstances other than those covered by Sections 13A-6-61 and 13A-6-62; or with her consent where consent was obtained by the use of any fraud or artifice; or Being a female, she engages in sexual intercourse with a male without his consent; or He or she engages in deviate sexual intercourse with another person under circumstances other than those covered by Sections 13A-6-63 and 13A-6-64. Consent is no defense to a prosecution under this subdivision.
(b) Sexual misconduct is a Class A misdemeanor.
(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, 2318.)
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LOUISIANA
http://www.sodomylaws.org/usa/louisiana/louisiana.htm
A. Crime against nature is:
(1) The unnatural carnal copulation by a human being with another of the same or opposite sex or with an animal, except that anal sexual intercourse between two human beings shall not be deemed as a crime against nature when done under any of the circumstances described in R.S. 14:41, 14:42, 14:42.1 or 14:43. Emission is not necessary; and, when committed by a human being with another, the use of the genital organ of one of the offenders of whatever sex is sufficient to constitute the crime.
(2) The solicitation by a human being of another with intent to engage in any unnatural carnal copulation for compensation.
B. Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined for not more than two thousand dollars, or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than five years, or both.
Amended by Acts 1975, No. 612, 1; Acts 1982, No. 703, 1.
R.S. 14:41, 14:42, 14:42.1 and 14:43 and deal with rape and sexual battery.
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MASSACHUSETTS
http://www.sodomylaws.org/usa/massachusetts/massachusetts.htm
Statute: 272-34, Crime Against Nature
Penalty: 20 years
Classification: Felony
Restrictions: Applies only to anal intercourse.
Statute: 272-35, Unnatural and Lascivious Acts
Penalty: 5 years/$100-$1000
Classification: Felony
Restrictions: Applies only to oral sex.
GENERAL LAWS OF MASSACHUSETTS
Chapter 272: Section 34. Crime against nature.
Section 34. Whoever commits the abominable and detestable crime against nature, either with mankind or with a beast, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than twenty years.
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MINNESOTA
http://www.sodomylaws.org/usa/minnesota/minnesota.htm
609.293 Sodomy
Subdivision 1. Definition. "Sodomy" means carnally knowing any person by the anus or by or with the mouth.
Subd. 2. Repealed, 1977 c 130 s 10
Subd. 3. Repealed, 1977 c 130 s 10
Subd. 4. Repealed, 1977 c 130 s 10
Subd. 5. Consensual acts. Whoever, in cases not coming within the provisions of sections 609.342 or 609.344, voluntarily engages in or submits to an act of sodomy with another may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both.
HIST: 1967 c 507 s 4; 1977 c 130 s 4; 1984 c 628 art 3 s 11
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MISSOURI
http://www.sodomylaws.org/usa/missouri/missouri.htm
566.090, Sexual misconduct, first degree, penalties
1. A person commits the crime of sexual misconduct in the first degree if he has deviate sexual intercourse with another person of the same sex or he purposely subjects another person to sexual contact or engages in conduct which would constitute sexual contact except that the touching occurs through the clothing without that person's consent.
2. Sexual misconduct in the first degree is a class A misdemeanor unless the actor has previously been convicted of an offense under this chapter or unless in the course thereof the actor displays a deadly weapon in a threatening manner or the offense is committed as a part of a ritual or ceremony, in which case it is a class D felony.
(L. 1977 S.B. 60, A.L. 1994 S.B. 693)
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SOUTH CAROLINA
http://www.sodomylaws.org/usa/south_carolina/south_carolina.htm
Section 16-15-120. Buggery.
Whoever shall commit the abominable crime of buggery [anal intercourse], whether with mankind or with beast, shall, on conviction, be guilty of felony and shall be imprisoned in the Penitentiary for five years or shall pay a fine of not less than five hundred dollars, or both, at the discretion of the court.
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VIRGINIA
http://www.sodomylaws.org/usa/virginia/virginia.htm
18.2-361 Crimes against nature
A. If any person carnally knows in any manner any brute animal, or carnally knows any male or female person by the anus or by or with the mouth, or voluntarily submits to such carnal knowledge, he or she shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony, except as provided in subsection B.
B. Any person who carnally knows by the anus or by or with the mouth his daughter or granddaughter, son or grandson, brother or sister, or father or mother shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony. However, if a parent or grandparent commits any such act with his child or grandchild and such child or grandchild is at least thirteen but less than eighteen years of age at the time of the offense, such parent or grandparent shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony.
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UTAH
http://www.sodomylaws.org/usa/utah/utah.htm
76-5-403. Sodomy, Forcible sodomy
(1) A person commits sodomy when the actor engages in any sexual act with a person who is 14 years of age or older involving the genitals of one person and mouth or anus of another person, regardless of the sex of either participant.
(2) A person commits forcible sodomy when the actor commits sodomy upon another without the other's consent.
(3) Sodomy is a class B misdemeanor. Forcible sodomy is a felony of the first degree.
Amended by Chapter 88, 1983 General Session
1997 Reform bill to decriminalize sodomy between spouses - failed.
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These remaining US States and Territories repealed their former sodomy statues and/or otherwise ruled them unconstitutional:
Illinois (1962)
Connecticut (1971)
Colorado (1972)
Oregon (1972)
Delaware (1973)
Hawaii (1973)
Ohio (1974)
North Dakota (1975)
New Hampshire (1975)
New Mexico (1975)
California (1976)
Maine (1976)
Washington (1976)
West Virginia (1976)
Indiana (1977)
South Dakota (1977)
Vermont (1977)
Wyoming (1977)
Nebraska (1978)
Iowa (1978)
New Jersey (1979)
Alaska (1980)
Wisconsin (1983)
Nevada (1993)
District of Columbia (1993)
Rhode Island (1998)
Arizona (2001)
American Samoa
Guam
Northern Mariana Islands
Virgin Islands
SODOMY LAW - USA LAWS
http://www.sodomylaws.org/usa/usa.htm
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You can see what much of the rest of the world calls sodomy my following this link and reading the various references therein:
SODOMY LAWS - WORLD
http://www.sodomylaws.org/world/world.htm
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Below you will find that I have carefully defined my search strategy for you in the event that you need to search for more information. By following the same type of searches that I did you may be able to enhance the research I have provided even further. I hope you find that that my research exceeds your expectations. If you have any questions about my research please post a clarification request prior to rating the answer. Otherwise, I welcome your rating and your final comments and I look forward to working with you again in the near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.
Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga
INFORMATION SOURCES
WHAT IS SODOMY?
http://slate.msn.com/id/2075271/
DICTIONARY.COM – SODOMY
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?db=*&q=SODOMY
MERRIAM-WEBSTERS DICTIONARY – SODOMY
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary
SODOMY LAW - USA LAWS
http://www.sodomylaws.org/usa/usa.htm
SODOMY LAWS - WORLD
http://www.sodomylaws.org/world/world.htm
SEARCH STRATEGY
SEARCH ENGINE USED:
Google ://www.google.com
SEARCH TERMS USED:
SODOMY
SODOMY LAWS
“WHAT IS SODOMY”