Age Of Consent

[The Shadow]

So how do you feel about current age of consent laws? I'm sure people will answer this as it pertains to the law in their own country/state/county etc, but that's OK as I think it could make the discussion more interesting.

Here in Canada, the legal AoC is 16, but that has changed only very recently - within the last year or so. But for over a hundred years, it was 14. Yes, you read that correctly; up until very recently it was perfectly legal for an adult to have sex with a 14 year old, so long as the adult was not a person "in a position of trust" like a parent or teacher; incredible but true. The decision to raise the AoC was due in large part to growing concerns about sexual predators on the internet (Dateline anyone?). While I'm glad the age has at least finally been raised to something more reasonable, I still have misgivings that even 16 might still be too young. Then again I'm not a child development expert, so I don't really know much about this sort of thing.

How do the rest of you feel about AoC laws - in your own area or others?

[anriana]

I like 16 and 17 being partial ages of consent, with a three year difference (ie at 16 only legal with someone 19 or younger), and then 18 being the official age.

[vanima]

I like 16 and 17 being partial ages of consent, with a three year difference (ie at 16 only legal with someone 19 or younger), and then 18 being the official age.

a lot like it is here.. 16 and 17 with partial.. but with a TWO year difference... and 18 being official....


honestly... i like the way it is set in my state.. but i like the 3 year rule too :D

[Greenday]

Looking up the laws, it seems a lil confusing. Seeing as PA and NJ are my main states of residence, those are the ones I referenced to. It seems like for both places, 16 is the main age. But I know I've heard a lot of this "if under 18, no sex with someone 2-3 years older or more". Can someone clarify this for me?

As far as age of consent goes, I feel 16 is a good age. At that point, you know what's up. What I DON'T like is girls who dress on the less conservative side and you find out they are a year or two too young. Damn jailbait.

[Flyndaran]

It's often a case of lesser crimes than legal vs. illegal. Sexual misconduct vs. statutory rape.

12 year old and 13 have sex. But laws said that having sex with anyone under 13 is sentenced to serious jail time regardless. Non judge discretion laws are stupid.

There are many under 18 that are mentally capable of giving consent, while many over 18 that aren't.

[Amethyst Hunter]

I personally think that 18 is the lowest level that AoC should go, for those mentally capable of giving it. (As someone, Saydrah I think it was, pointed out in another post, certain classes of people, such as the mentally incapacitated, are incapable of giving informed consent by virtue of their particular scenario) 16 is just a little too young for my comfort - granted, there are very mature and sensible 16ers out there, but they're usually too far and few between, from my general observation.

People like to say that age doesn't matter, but it DOES. :/

[anriana]

I personally think that 18 is the lowest level that AoC should go, for those mentally capable of giving it. (As someone, Saydrah I think it was, pointed out in another post, certain classes of people, such as the mentally incapacitated, are incapable of giving informed consent by virtue of their particular scenario) 16 is just a little too young for my comfort - granted, there are very mature and sensible 16ers out there, but they're usually too far and few between, from my general observation.

People like to say that age doesn't matter, but it DOES. :/

So you don't think it should be legal for 16 and 17 year olds to have sex with each other?

12 year old and 13 have sex. But laws said that having sex with anyone under 13 is sentenced to serious jail time regardless. Non judge discretion laws are stupid.

I completely agree. There was a ridiculous case in Georgia where a 17-year-old received fellatio from a consenting 15-year-old and was sentenced to prison for 10 years. (He served 2 of them before the case was appealed)

[Amethyst Hunter]

So you don't think it should be legal for 16 and 17 year olds to have sex with each other?

Not illegal, but it's not something that I'd recommend, at least. I may not be reading things right here; I'm tired and fighting off what looks to be my third bout of sickness this month. :/

There was a ridiculous case in Georgia where a 17-year-old received fellatio from a consenting 15-year-old and was sentenced to prison for 10 years. (He served 2 of them before the case was appealed)

Now that is definitely out of bounds, I agree. Without knowing any details beyond what you've provided, my initial thought is that it was stupid of them, but it's not something that should be illegal or punishable with jail time. Like Gilbert Gottfried said in Beverly Hills Cop II, "There are people running around out there with chainsaws and you're arresting me for unpaid parking tickets?!"

[Greenday]

Now that is definitely out of bounds, I agree. Without knowing any details beyond what you've provided, my initial thought is that it was stupid of them, but it's not something that should be illegal or punishable with jail time.

Stupid of them? They were both consenting. They both knew what they were doing so nothing stupid about it. It's two years. That's nothing. There was nothing wrong about what they did.

[anriana]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genarlow_Wilson Here's the wiki. To summarize, there was a holdover in the law that made oral sex with someone underage a felony.

[DrT]

I think 16 is a good age, though I wouldn't object to 14 years old playing with each other. As long as they are informed.

And that's where the problem might be: since the legal age is 16, one may want to protect the poor lil things from the boooboo bad sex stuff until they turn 16, and they'll start butterflying around before that and do stupid stuff, because they're not informed and resent being considered stupid by their parents.

So 16 with a 3 yrs different as far as legal is concerned, but if a 16 and a 14 yrs old are getting at it, liking it, and minding their business otherwise, why the hell not?

Not to want to go off subject, but if you allow them to have sex at 16, why wait till 21 to buy alcohol ? In France the legal age to drink alcohol in public is around 15 (well at least legal to order it), before the legal sex age (though that's a shady line as well)

[Boozy]

Not to want to go off subject, but if you allow them to have sex at 16, why wait till 21 to buy alcohol ? In France the legal age to drink alcohol in public is around 15 (well at least legal to order it), before the legal sex age (though that's a shady line as well)

Generally, it is not considered cool for teenagers in France to get drunk off their asses every weekend. It is considered cool to do so in the US. The French are also less puritanical about alcohol, so many of these kids will have a few drinks at home under a parent's watchful eye. The cultures are different enough that teenage drinking becomes a riskier proposition in America.

Also, far more teenagers drive in America than in France.

[DrT]

Actually, the getting frunk thingy is still cool, for some. Thankfully nto all of them, but it is true that the number of drunk driving accidents in less that 25 yrs old is increasing in France.

Honestly though; tis true that the behavior towards alcohol in america is rather immature, even in older people. (though we do have our share of immatures, and for all I know I simply saw the exception while I was in the states, not the rule)

Anyway, I'm of the opinion to let them binge their asses off when they're 16-18, puke their guts and be hangover all weekend, so by the time they're behing a wheel there's a chance they learned the lesson and start drinking less.

[anriana]

I like that idea, except that most teenagers get their licenses at 16.

I completely agree that American liquor laws are ridiculous. I just turned 21 this past Sunday in Indiana and I could only buy alcohol at a bar (not retail to take home with me) due to stupid morality holdovers. So, if I wanted to celebrate my 21st, I would need to DRIVE to a bar, get hammered, hope no one decided to date rape me, and hope the bartender called a cab for me. Obviously I didn't do this, but I was quite angry that I couldn't just go to the store and buy something.

I had also planned on doing the 21 shots ritual for a long time. Luckily I have good friends who helped me get in a little underage drinking (a margarita and a screwdiver, nothing crazy) so I could see that alcohol isn't the ambrosia it's cracked up to be before killing myself.

/rant

[DrT]

I like that idea, except that most teenagers get their licenses at 16.

The good ol': "old enough to die in a car accident, to get pregnant, to buy a gun, but OH NO certainly not to buy and drink alcohol" ;)

[kiwi]

In NZ the age of consent for females is 16

there is NO age of consent for males

charges are laid under something like "sexual contact with a minor" if your charging someone for molesting an "underage" male

I think is should be 16 for both sexes.

[Greenday]

I had also planned on doing the 21 shots ritual for a long time. Luckily I have good friends who helped me get in a little underage drinking (a margarita and a screwdiver, nothing crazy) so I could see that alcohol isn't the ambrosia it's cracked up to be before killing myself.

21 shots is suicide. Unless you pace it like one an hour, nothing good will happen.

Let's say I took 21 shots in FIVE hours. That'd leave me with a BAC around 0.4. 50% of people who get to a 0.4 die. And I'm a guy that weighs 178 lbs.

[McDreidel09]

Where I live, 17 is the age of consent. Done. No limits on age difference. Just 17. I'm really cool with this because guys around my age suck. Not all, just most. If at 17, I can go to actual jail instead of juvie, then I better be able to have sex with someone I have feelings for, even if they are older.

[Slytovhand]

Hmmm - I'm undecided on this whole topic, especially since Mysty brought up the Pre-marital thread.

Over her (Australia) it's state dependant, but basicall the 15/18 split. But cigarettes and alcohol are 18 everywhere (that's federal law). Driving is also state specific, but mostly around 17.

Issues - firstly, given pre-marital thread, there is indication that sex is just something to be enjoyed, and is a very personal thing... so what's the whole big deal about it? Not being facetious, it's a real question... what really is the hang up?? Ok, pregnancy and disease... other than that?

Secondly, nature has designed us so that we are capable of parenting (at least physically, if not emotionally) at ages earlier than legal, which indicates to me that this whole age of consent thing is a load of malarky.

Thirdly, as was pointed out in the OP, the age thing was only really a social construct that we adhered to fairly recently - what happened prior to that? Did we specifically need laws to protect kids (well, yes, certainly some...). But things were quite different 'back then'.

OTOH, nature has given us an earlier parenting age to counter a shorter lifespan... is that likely to change through evolution? Does it matter?

Society has a hang up on sex. It has done so in most cultures for a long time... but not all. The more prudish the society, the more the issues that seem to develop from them. Did (and do) the various aboriginal cultures of the planet who didn't worry so much about clothing have major sexual issues?

Also, kids these days (doesn't every generation say that??) seem to be less mature in some ways. Certainly, we can afford to be... basic survivability for the individual is more likely, and less time consuming. So, we have a lot more time to actually enjoy our lifetime however we choose to - such as play computer games... or type posts on a forum :p

Speaking of kids, when is too young to be having them? I know it's easy for us as adults to pass judgement, but having kids is a life-changing event. For some, it will bring out maturity and responsibility like nothing else. Others may crack. And I'm not sure if anyone is really able to tell in advance.

Have I sufficiently copped out on giving a decision on this?? :p

[IDrinkaRum]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genarlow_Wilson Here's the wiki. To summarize, there was a holdover in the law that made oral sex with someone underage a felony.

I remember that case. IIRC, the only reason charges were brought up was because Mr. Wilson is black and his teenage partner was white and the father insisted Mr. Wilson be "punished" for what he had done.

[daleduke17]

How about one set age for everything?

Make it 16 or 17 and you're considered an adult. Drive, buy booze/cars/guns/etc, have sex, sign contracts, join the military, whatever.

No fuss, no muss.

[Flyndaran]

How about one set age for everything?

Make it 16 or 17 and you're considered an adult. Drive, buy booze/cars/guns/etc, have sex, sign contracts, join the military, whatever.

No fuss, no muss.

But completely ignoring certain key facts. Driving in the U.S. is usually a necessity, even in the very few areas with expansive public transport. This requires that driving age be painfully young.
Sex is a no win situation. No matter how young you set the age, kids will still experiment, especially when puberty starts, and we certainly don't want them legally screwing around. This requires a painfully, to those not yet old enough, old limit to set.
Military is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it is a quite possibly lethal, and very psychologically intense decision, so should be reserved for responsible adults. On the other hand, no military in the world could survive with only responsible adults. So the set age is required to be almost stupidly young.
Alcohol, a toxin, and guns, lethal weapons by design, are local moral and complicated public health topics to regulate so can reasonably have regional differences.

[Slytovhand]

Alcohol, a toxin, and guns, lethal weapons by design, are local moral and complicated public health topics to regulate so can reasonably have regional differences.

Couldn't a similar argument be made for sex, then?

[Flyndaran]

Couldn't a similar argument be made for sex, then?

Sex is a no win game. Youths will do it no matter what laws are made. Laws are mainly to prevent older adults from manipulating them into sex that they aren't ready for.

While underage sex often involves a potentially dangerous injection, I can't see how one would seriously equate it to toxins.

[Slytovhand]

No, not equating it with toxics, equating it with the 'regional differences' bit.

[Flyndaran]

No, not equating it with toxics, equating it with the 'regional differences' bit.

Should we really accept regional/cultural differences for something like this? In the U.S. we don't. If an american goes to a country and has sex with someone legal there but underage here, he will be arrested when he returned.
That's why we should have a federal "no exceptions" lowest age allowed law.
States should then be allowed to increase it if they so chose.

In general I would greatly prefer a more individuals involved and sliding scale of iillegality that is quite counter to the way in which most american want now. Today, people want minimum sentencing and less power to th judicial branch and more to the other two. Not to mention this country's gross problem, since the beginning, with what is known as, "executive creep" whereby many aspects of government are being taken over by said branch.

[anriana]

Should we really accept regional/cultural differences for something like this? In the U.S. we don't. If an american goes to a country and has sex with someone legal there but underage here, he will be arrested when he returned.

Really? How does that make any sense? Will Americans also be arrested for smoking pot or hiring a prostitute while vacationing in the Netherlands?


And America does have regional differences in its sex laws regarding prostituion and, until recently, sodomy and sex toys.

[Flyndaran]

Really? How does that make any sense? Will Americans also be arrested for smoking pot or hiring a prostitute while vacationing in the Netherlands? .
It's mainly, or at least officially, designed to prevent sex tourism and the violation of tiny children..

And America does have regional differences in its sex laws regarding prostituion and, until recently, sodomy and sex toys.
Yes that is very odd, that no supreme court justice has ever called sex a human right. Also, some states still do have sodomy laws. The unconstitutional bit was that some made only gay sodomy illegal. As long as you make it illegal across the board for any pairings it's constitutional.

[anriana]

It's mainly, or at least officially, designed to prevent sex tourism and the violation of tiny children..

While I certainly disagree with sex tourism/pedophilia, I also disagree with a law that says "You're American, and X is illegal in America, therefore it's illegal for you to do it ever." The only thing that should apply to is matters of national security, because seriously, why would that law not equally be applied to smoking marijuana or those under 21 drinking alcohol in countries without ridiculous drinking ages?

Yes that is very odd, that no supreme court justice has ever called sex a human right. Also, some states still do have sodomy laws. The unconstitutional bit was that some made only gay sodomy illegal. As long as you make it illegal across the board for any pairings it's constitutional.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_v._Texas

4/9 Supreme Court justices ruled that sodomy laws are unconstitutional due to privacy, period.

[Flyndaran]

While I certainly disagree with sex tourism/pedophilia, I also disagree with a law that says "You're American, and X is illegal in America, therefore it's illegal for you to do it ever." The only thing that should apply to is matters of national security, because seriously, why would that law not equally be applied to smoking marijuana or those under 21 drinking alcohol in countries without ridiculous drinking ages? .
At least you realize that there should be limits to our wants and needs to protect our citizens from themselves and others from us.
It all comes down to the unbeatable debate strategy...."But it's for the children!" Any politician faced with such a cry can do nothing but capitulate fully and completely.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_v._Texas

4/9 Supreme Court justices ruled that sodomy laws are unconstitutional due to privacy, period.

That makes their reticence to shoot the elephant in the room all the weirder.
Gay people are not allowed to marry because of the expected sodomy they commit to/on eachother. If my sexual activity, or lack thereof, is none of the governments business, then why is that of gays'?

That kind of blatant hypocrisy just make the U.S. look stupid and appear even more of a giant loose cannon than our actions have already made us out to be.

[rdp78]

Its 18 in Virginia and that if you have sex with some under 15 its condersidered a felony but 15 and over it's a misdemeanor but I think if they are close in age charges should be drop. If you are under 18 and have sex with someone under 15 with consent but are more than 3 years apart its a felony but if its less than 3 its a misdemeanor. Also children under 13 are not considered consenting children. I found all of this on www.moraloutrage.net.

Also having premartial sex, living with your boyfriend/girlfriend and having an affair are all illegal in my state. I doubt many people have ever been arrested for these things but again you never know and I think the police have better things to do then getting in people's personal lives. I also read on Wiki that anything that's not penile-vaginal intercourse is illegal and labeled sodomy. I don't think it's anyone's business on what people are doing in their own bedrooms.

[Greenday]

That website posted by rdp was quite helpful in clearing up the laws. So for me, the ones that really apply are:

NJ
16 is old enough to consent
-If 16 or 17, we can't be related (uh, not a problem for me), I can't have legal authority of the person (not an issue), and I can't be a parent, guardian, etc. in their household.

PA
If a girl is 14 or older, mistaking her age is a legal defense, but if she's under 14, it is not. (Should never be a problem for me)
16 years old is over enough to consent
-But if under 18, cannot have sex with someone 4 or more years older than them unless they are married.

NJ seems like more sensible laws to me. I mean, PA's 4+ years laws isn't too bad, but still 16-20 isn't that big a difference.

[Flyndaran]

...
NJ seems like more sensible laws to me. I mean, PA's 4+ years laws isn't too bad, but still 16-20 isn't that big a difference.

I would think that it is usually a huge difference. It's usually the difference between living under the direct control of parents and living on one's own.
That's one life experience that can't be ignored.

[Flyndaran]

Secret revelation time:
I performed sexual acts when I was 11 and she was 8. In some areas I would be labeled a dangerous predator. I certainly regret my actions. I should have had enough forethought to recognize that that and other signs meant she was being abused by adults.
But should I have been arrested, put in jail, or what?

[Greenday]

I should have had enough forethought to recognize that that and other signs meant she was being abused by adults.
But should I have been arrested, put in jail, or what?

I don't think being arrested or jail time would have been appropriate at all. You didn't notice, you didn't notice.

Most 20 year olds I know don't live on their own, nor do they even pay their own gas or cell phone bills. Definitely not that drastically different from when they were 16.

[Flyndaran]

I don't think being arrested or jail time would have been appropriate at all. You didn't notice, you didn't notice.

Most 20 year olds I know don't live on their own, nor do they even pay their own gas or cell phone bills. Definitely not that drastically different from when they were 16.

I tried to say usually. But yes, many adults continue to live with family. I did, because my severe anxiety made it impossible to keep a job or even go outside very often.
But I thought it was almost assumed that every kid wants to leave home at the first available moment.
Still, it is the difference between high school and college.

[Boozy]

I performed sexual acts when I was 11 and she was 8....I certainly regret my actions. I should have had enough forethought to recognize that that and other signs meant she was being abused by adults.


At the age of eleven?? You don't actually believe this, do you? An 11 year-old is virtually incapable of that kind of insight. Well-educated adults know that sexually-precocious behaviour in very young girls is an indication of abuse. But I don't think anyone on earth would expect a child to know that.

Hindsight is always 20/20. There is no point in beating yourself up about this.

[Flyndaran]

At the age of eleven?? You don't actually believe this, do you? An 11 year-old is virtually incapable of that kind of insight. Well-educated adults know that sexually-precocious behaviour in very young girls is an indication of abuse. But I don't think anyone on earth would expect a child to know that.

Hindsight is always 20/20. There is no point in beating yourself up about this.

I understand why you and even my therepist for a different reason say this. But my intellectual development was quite different than most.
My logical situational analysis ability developed quite early.
I was two months when I made the connection between crying and getting attention. I was six when I realized that sunday school teachers actually believed the fantastic stuff they taught. My very mental nature is one of looking at situations to see fault and idiosincracies. I was even a toddler when I came to understand that parents are not perfect.
I'm not berrating myself or even overly regretful. Just recognising an avoidable sexual mistake. Too often today people aren't allowed to make such mistakes. They either are absolved of all responsibility or must take it all as if such actions were willfull.
I hate black and white government.



I also never went through the rebellious teen years

[Greenday]

Flyndaran, I was always much mentally older than my real age. I never went through rebellious teenage years. As a kid, I was probably more mature than most older teenagers (at least with the people I've experienced so far). I NEVER knew that sexually-precocious behaviour in very young girls is an indication of abuse. I didn't know that until maybe 2 years ago, freshman year in college at 18 years old. Some things you learn by picking them up yourself. Other things you can only learn by someone else teaching you it. This just happened to be one thing I learned by someone else teaching me it later on in life. You can't fault someone for that because it's just NOT obvious if you never knew it.

[Flyndaran]

Simple horniness without any other symptoms is perfectly normal in some girls as it is in some boys.
There were other signs of abuse. She showed a desire to manipulate me and a few other boys into meaningless games with oral sex as a reward.
That to us adults, of course, would be a giant red flag.

I don't dwell on it, but I prefer to always remember my mistakes. It keeps the ego in check.

[rdp78]

Flynn, I agree with Greenday and Boozy you shouldn't beat yourself over this. I mean you were only 11 and still a child, I mean not even a teenager yet. You might not have been charged with anything but still I don't think society would have given up on you at such a young age. You had no knowledge she was being abused or even hurt by adults.

Heck, to make you feel any better I'm 30 and still live with my parents. Interestingly enough I think I developed slower then normal. I mean from what my parents said I didn't talk correctly till I was 3 and had to be held back a grade in elementary school because I was too immature. Funny thing is I never really was a rebellious teen but I did have a temper that I'm still trying to control.

[fireheart17]

In Australia, with the exception of two states, the legal age for sexual consent is 16, the other two states are 17. This applies to heterosexual intercourse and homosexual intercourse with the exception of one state, where the legal age for homosexual affairs is 18 (don't ask me why :confused:)

I got really angry in high school when several people told me that the minimum age was 16 for girls, 17 for guys. This was mostly because I read a lot of teenage magazines where they stated that the minimum age of consent applied for both genders. I was also told this in several pamphlets distributed in Sex Ed. Apparaently a police pamphlet was stating this...my theory was "bull...".

The 2-year rule (i.e. if you're having sex with someone who's two years younger while one is underage) applies with the exception being homosexual sex. That is just beyond annoying IMHO because it tends to imply two things 1) that homosexuality is wrong (it isn't) and 2) that it somehow justifies a 15-year-old who's been manipulated into having sex.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Over here (England) AoC is 16 accross the board. It used to be 16 for straights and 18s for gays til pressure was brought to level the playing field.

I've noticed too that there's a skew when it comes to what's considered statatory rape; if it's the male who's older, it's more likely that charges will be brought than if it's the other way round. Re: the recent case of the fifteen year old girl who had a baby with the thirteen year old. Seeing as he looks around eight years old, I'd say that was seriously creepy and if it had been the other way round, ie a fifteen year old boy impregnating a twelve year old, you'd have to beat social services off with a stick.

[Flyndaran]

Flynn, I agree with Greenday and Boozy you shouldn't beat yourself over this. ...

Thanks. I just feel that if I took one moment to think with my brain I would have realized the enormity of the situation. That's why I felt so horrible when I was caught. Only then did it all hit me.

[Evandril]

Thanks. I just feel that if I took one moment to think with my brain I would have realized the enormity of the situation. That's why I felt so horrible when I was caught. Only then did it all hit me.

In my opinion, if you learned from what happened... Don't keep beating yourself up over it. Mistakes happen, even to the most careful of people. Learn from it, and never make the same mistake again. *shrugs* 'Tis all anyone can do, really

[Flyndaran]

In my opinion, if you learned from what happened... Don't keep beating yourself up over it. Mistakes happen, even to the most careful of people. Learn from it, and never make the same mistake again. *shrugs* 'Tis all anyone can do, really

Well I avoided making the "mistake" that my brothers did. They both, while in their low twenties, had sex with two separate 16 year olds. Here in Oregon that's illegal.

[Slytovhand]

Flyn...

Happiness is too rare in this world to actually lose it because someone wishes it upon you. -Flyndaran (yeah, I just copied it from Ev's sig :p)

But... Happiness is too rare in the world to beat yourself up over your mistakes... for the rest of your life - especially if you learnt from them.

[goldaries13]

I grew up in Alabama, where the age of consent is 16. I was 15 when I met my now-husband. While people in town knew about and looked the other way when it came to the boys I had been with previously, a lot of people got all up in arms about him and I.

I have no idea why, but I have a few hunches: 1) he was foreign(from Denmark), 2) I had just been in a car accident and was now wheelchair-bound, thus necessating these nosy people to feel I needed to be protected, and 3) my father was long since deceased, and therefore unable to deal with this "problem," and my mother was being unwilling or was unable to(she told me herself, that it was my life, my body, and if I wanted to do anything with this guy, to just remember to keep taking my BC pills and to use a condom), so the townspeople had to step up.

We weren't having sex yet, by the way, which is probably the only thing that saved what happened from going any further. I was 15 and he was 16, almost 17. Which means which he could not be charged with sexual abuse in the second degree (http://www.legislature.state.al.us/CodeofAlabama/1975/13A-6-67.htm), which is a class A misdemeanor, but he could be charged (if one were to squint a bit) with rape in the second degree (http://www.legislature.state.al.us/CodeofAlabama/1975/13A-6-62.htm), which is a class B felony.

Because one of these "concerned townspeople" (my mom's boss) was worried about my being "led astray" (Ha! I hated to tell that man, but it was too late: I had already been "led astray" by his own son two years earlier), he turned the Dane in for statutory rape. The police went on this complaint rather than trying to persuade my mother or myself to make one (probably because they knew it was useless to try and do so).

The Dane was actually "detained" (not arrested) for three days while I had to undergo a physical examination to prove whether or not we had sex. Since there was no evidence (I guess these people never heard of condoms. Just saying), the Dane was let go. But I was pissed.

Keep in mind, the Dane was not a citizen, and only in the country on a student visa. If he had been arrested and charged with this class B felony, even if the charges had been later dropped(which they would have been), his admission to the college he was attending would have been revoked, therefore his student visa would be no good, therefore he would have had to go back to Denmark. I'm not saying this was the intent of the people in the town where I lived, but it made me all the more anxious to finish high school and go to New York for college like I had planned.

I'm all for age of consent reform, especially in Alabama. Just think: you have to be older to be charged with the misdemeanor, but you can be younger and charged with the felony. That's not right.