Historical Marker

Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Jeffery Wasson

Historical marker location:

Lexington, Kentucky

( Water St. & Quality St., Lexington)

At this site in the fall of 1985, undercover police operations targeted gay men. Nineteen were charged with violating Kentucky's sodomy law, which carried a penalty of up to 12 months in jail, a $500 fine or both. Only Jeffery Allan Wasson challenged the statute.

After a long legal battle the Kentucky Supreme Court nullified the anti-sodomy statute in 1992. The Court ruled that Kentucky's Constitution guarantees the right to privacy and equal protection to private, consensual and adult same-sex relationships.

Dedicated on June 3, 2018.