Activists have filed a ballot initiative in California to ban shellfish in response to the 'Sodomite Suppression Act' which calls for gay people to receive the death penalty.

Christian lawyer Matt McLaughlin submitted a proposal last month urging the state to put in place seven measures against those who engage in same-sex relationships, which he called an "abominable crime".

"Seeing that it is better that offenders should die rather than that all of us should be killed by God's just wrath against us for the folly of tolerating wickedness in our midst, the People of California wisely command, in the fear of God, that any person who willingly touches another person of the same gender for purposes of sexual gratification be put to death by bullets to the head or by any other convenient method," McLaughlin wrote in his proposal.

The Sodomite Suppression Act would also ban the promotion of LGBT rights to minors. Anyone contravening this law would be punishable by a $1 million fine, up to 10 years in prison and expulsion from the state under McLaughlin's suggestion. "Sodomistic propaganda is defined as anything aimed at creating an interest or an acceptance of human sexual relations other than between a man and a woman," he clarifies.

"No person shall serve in any public office, nor serve in public employment, nor enjoy any public benefit, who is a sodomite or who espouses sodomistic propaganda or who belongs to any group that does."

McLaughlin has been widely criticised for his proposal, which he claims is based on Leviticus 20:13: "If a man also lies with a man, as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death". California Attorney General Kamala Harris asked permission to block it last week before it gained any endorsement. It would need the backing of five per cent of voters (around 350,000 people) before it went to vote in the state.

It is highly unlikely to receive anywhere near that level of support, but McLaughlin's critics have filed a counter-bill using another passage from Leviticus: "Whatsoever has no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you," (Leviticus 11:12).

The proposed 'Shellfish Suppression Act' states: "Shellfish are a monstrous evil that Almighty God, giver of freedom and liberty, commands us in Leviticus to suppress. They also smell bad.

"Any person who willingly consumes or sells shellfish is guilty of a felony, and shall be fined $666 thousand per occurrence, and/or imprisoned up to 6 years, 6 months, and 6 days."

According to Pink News, another ballot initiative titled the 'Intolerant Jackass Act' has also been filed in response to McLaughlin.

It labels prejudice against sexual orientation an "abominable crime", and "a destructive view that society commands us to suppress."

The proposal continues: "Any person, herein known as an 'Intolerant Jackass', who brings forth a ballot measure that suggests the killing of gays and/or lesbians, whether this measure is called the Sodomite Suppression Act or is known by some other name, shall be required to attend sensitivity training for at least three (3) hours per month for twelve (12) consecutive months.

"In addition, the offender or "Intolerant Jackass" must donate $5000 to a pro-gay or pro-lesbian organization."