1650: Sarah White Norman was convicted for lewd behavior on October 2, marking a legal first in colonial North America.
On October 2, 1650, Sarah White Norman faced conviction in Plymouth Colony for “lewd behavior with each other upon a bed,” alongside Mary Vincent Hammon. The court's decision required Sarah to publicly acknowledge her "unchaste behavior." This sentencing, one of the rare documented legal actions against women for same-sex relations during the era, highlights the punitive measures enforced on individuals perceived to violate sexual norms. The incident remains significant for its representation of early enforcement of moral conduct laws.