Date: Fri, 11 Feb 1994 09:56:16 -0500 From: "David B. O'Donnell" Subject: UK: Support Equal Age of Consent [From the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission mailing list, IGLHRC@igc.apc.org; for more information, contact them at that address.] Support an Equal Age of Consent in the United Kingdom A multi-party group of British parliamentarians has introduced legislation that would equalize the age of consent for heterosexual and homosexual sex. Currently, heterosexual relations are legal at age 16, while gay male sex is legal only at 21. Lesbian sex is omitted entirely from mention. The law constitutes the highest age of consent for gay sex in Europe. Letters are needed to demonstrate strong international support for equal treatment before the law. Far from an obscure and irrelevant law, the unequal ages of consent are enforced and have a dramatic impact on the lives of young gay people. According to the government's own figures, between 1988 and 1991 there were over 2,000 arrests for offenses involving consensual sex with men under 21 years of age. Most recently, two young British nationals involved in a long term relationship filed suit against their government before the European Court of Human Rights. In apparent response to public discussion of their case on the radio they were subjected to a criminal investigation and asked a series of intrusive questions by the police. The law is especially burdensome for efforts aimed at controlling the AIDS pandemic since it means that any young man who admits to having sex with another man before the age of 21 is risking arrest. Honest and effective communication with health educators and counselors is therefore made unjustifiably difficult. Unfortunately, conservative politicians are resisting the reform effort, citing the Tory Government's "back to basics" traditional values program and the supposed need to protect young men from corruption. A particularly worrisome scenario is the possibility that the Parliament will vote in a compromise age of consent of 18 for male to male sex, leaving heterosexual sexual relations lawful at 16. IGLHRC is concerned that such a maneuver on the part of the government would only entrench a discriminatory law. Respectfully worded letters should be sent to the British Parliament where the vote on the issue is expected to be very close. Letters should include the following arguments: 1. Laws governing sexual conduct should always treat homosexuality and heterosexuality *equally*. Any institutionalized discrimination can only be justified using anachronistic and unscientific ideas. 2. Homosexuality is not an undesirable characteristic from which governments should protect their citizens. Further, young people who are growing into their sexuality (whatever it may be) need support and guidance, not the unnecessary intervention of a discriminatory criminal justice system. 3. Legislating against non consensual sexual advances is a legitimate governmental goal. That, however, should not be confused with legislating against homosexual behavior in a discriminatory fashion. The same fair and equally enforced laws against rape and sexual harassment should suffice for all. Write to: The Right Honorable John Major M.P., 10 Downing Street, London SW1, United Kingdom The Right Honorable Michael Howard M.P., House of Commons, London SW1A OAA, United Kingdom