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Most laws in the US differ from state to state unless the Supreme Court "Intervenes" and says it has to be one way. States have a lot of power in the US to make their own laws. If it there isn't a specific law on the Federal books, states can do what they want. Yes there are usually federal guidelines, but that is all they are... guidelines.
Even tax laws differ from state to state. Massachusetts has a 5% tax on most stuff, while New York, which is right next to Mass has an 8% tax on everything including food and clothes. Mass has a stupid exsice tax on cars that has to be paid to the town you live in and the state every year, New York doesn't.
Also, the sodomy laws were all blue book laws from the very founding of this country, which nobody (especially in the North) took seriously unless the Police decided to be dicks. For example in New England (MA, RI, NH, VT, CT, ME) you couldn't buy alcohol on sundays until last year when people got around to changing certain laws which have been on the books since the 17th century.
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