Criminalizing sex, defining sexuality: Sodomy, law, and manhood in nineteenth-century Colorado

My dissertation examines the context of sodomy and sodomy laws in nineteenth-century Colorado mining communities. Through an interdisciplinary approach, I ask what it means when communities choose to enforce sodomy laws. I argue that sodomy laws represent a key element in the construction of masculinity and, when enforced, reflect larger changes in the social dynamics in Colorado. Though changes in mining between 1850 and 1927, I contend affected attitudes toward sexual behavior, morality, and masculinity. The use of sodomy laws in 1922 and 1927 reflects Colorado's change from a nineteenth-century frontier state to a twentieth-century industrial power. Though sodomy never becomes a frequently prosecuted crime, it remains a way to gage social and cultural attitudes in Colorado and in the nation. Knowing this history of sodomy laws and the development of law can provide context to our contemporary discussions concerning sexual behavior, identity, and state.