How did the story of Sodom and Gomorrah influence the word sodomy?

The term sodomy is derived from the biblical city of Sodom. In the Genesis narrative, a mob of men surrounds the home of Lot, demanding that he bring out his angelic guests so that they may "know them" (Genesis 19:5).12

Historically, this passage has been interpreted by many as a reference to homosexual acts, leading to the association of the city’s name with culturally stigmatized sexual behaviors. Consequently, theologians and legal systems developed the term to categorize specific sexual acts—including anal or oral copulation and bestiality—as sinful or criminal.123

It is important to note that this traditional interpretation is not universal. Modern scholarship in Judaism and Christianity often emphasizes that the primary sin of Sodom was the inhabitants' profound inhospitality and violence toward strangers, rather than homosexuality. While the term remains linked to the biblical story, its usage has evolved significantly, and in 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that laws criminalizing consensual same-sex acts are unconstitutional.231