Juvenall Wilson

Boy have I got a really scary thought for those of us who live in the state of Michigan. It’s called MCL §750.335. This little wonder from 1931 makes it a crime punishable by up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine for simply living with someone you care about. That’s right, you heard me. The State of Michigan is using it’s power for state mandated morality. Here’s the text:

Any man or woman, not being married to each other, who lewdly and lasciviously associates and cohabits together, and any man or woman, married or unmarried, who is guilty of open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or a fine of not more than $1,000.00. No prosecution shall be commenced under this section after 1 year from the time of committing the offense.

So if you’re not married and living with someone you’re sleeping with, you’re now a criminal. Congratulations. The line to turn yourself in forms right behind me. To be fair here, this law isn’t normally enforced. I would imagne it hard to prove that I was, for example, sleeping with the girlfriend I lived with. However, not everyone is in the clear.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan has appealed to the state Supreme Court on behalf of a divorced man whose overnight visitation with his children has been restricted by the court of appeals. The court order, based on an antiquated law that criminalizes “lewd and lascivious cohabitation,” prohibits his girlfriend from sleeping at their shared home on the nights when the children are in the home.

“This antiquated law allows the state to unconstitutionally interfere with a parent’s relationship with his or her children,” said Kary Moss, ACLU of Michigan Executive Director. “It is based upon the notion that there is something sinful when unmarried adults spend the night together rather than on the best interests of the children and the family.”

Basically, this guy’s ex-wife whines like bitch to the courts demanding his girlfriend not be allowed to stay with him while the children are there. No indication the girlfriend’s abusive, no signs she has a drug habit and not one shred of evidence she’s even a Scientologist. So, where’s the problem here? Sure, it’s not this ideal family setting we have somehow tricked ourselves into viewing as what once was, but how many homes actually are? Jesus, if they would have used those standards on my mother, not only would I have been placed in foster care, but she would have been stoned to death.

While I expect this to be easily shot down in the Supreme Court, I’ll still be keeping my eye on it. In spite of it’s clear unconstitutionality, you never know what sort of asshat will think it’s the government’s job to enforce morality.