Australian State Lowers Age of Consent For Homosexual Sex

NEWS.com.au / LifeSiteNews.com ^ | May 29, 2003 | NEWS.com.au / LifeSiteNews.com

[Polycarp]

Consent bill passes upper house By Jim Hanna May 27, 2003

THE age of consent for homosexual males in NSW is set to be lowered to 16 years, after a historic conscience vote in the State's Upper House tonight.

At 9.24pm (AEST), the Legislative Council voted 23 to 16 to pass the bill and establish a uniform age of consent of 16 years in NSW, generating cheers and applause from a packed public gallery.

Four Labor MLCs - Tony Burke, Tony Catanzariti, Tony Kelly and Eddie Obeid - voted against the bill, while two Labor MLCs - John Hatzistergos and Henry Tsang did not take part in the vote.

Six Liberal MLCs - Catherine Cusack, Patricia Forsythe, Donald Harwin, Robyn Parker, Greg Pearce and John Ryan - voted in favour of the bill.

An amendment to split the bill to allow MLCs to vote for its tougher child sexual assault penalties without supporting a lower age of consent for gay men, was defeated later by 22 votes to 17.

The bill's passage means the age of consent in NSW, as in every other Australian state, will become the same for all types of sexual relationships.

The original bill was passed by 54 votes to 32 in the lower house last week.

Tonight's vote was delayed by lengthy speeches from some MLCs, including Charlie Lynn who spent around two hours reading out letters and e-mails against the move.

Labor MP Peter Primrose, who was in favour of the move, dumped his lengthy prepared speech in a bid to have the vote put sooner.

AAP

[Polycarp]

Australian State Lowers Age of Consent For Homosexual Sex

SYDNEY, May 29, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - New South Wales has lowered the age for homosexual sex to 16. A so-called "historic conscience vote" in the state Legislative Council, or upper house, ended in a 23 to 16 result, "generating cheers and applause from a packed public gallery," according to media reports.

The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr. George Pell, and the Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle, Michael Malone, said the state is "opening a real Pandora's box. ... At 16 it is too easy for children to be manipulated into sexual acts against their will." Pell added, "Parliament should not enshrine the ideological claim that homosexual and heterosexual activity are morally equivalent. It sounds a wrong note and makes the task of parents more difficult."

For local coverage: http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6505044%5E1702,00.html

[Polycarp]

the state is "opening a real Pandora's box. ... At 16 it is too easy for children to be manipulated into sexual acts against their will." Pell added, "Parliament should not enshrine the ideological claim that homosexual and heterosexual activity are morally equivalent. It sounds a wrong note and makes the task of parents more difficult."

I think Pell deserves an award for understatement here...pinging

[Lancey Howard]

Great news!
Maybe Australia can become a homo magnet.
They should advertise.

[Polycarp]

We could offer subsidized expatriation.

[bart99]

Is there a legal age here in the USA - hetro - or is it state by state? Just curious.

[Fifth Business]

Gives new meaning to "down under."

[Husker24]

Its state by state, most 18 id say, but some states its 16, there might even be a few down south that are 14 but im not sure, maybe im just thinking marriage.

[hoot2]

"Is there a legal age here in the USA - hetro - or is it state by state? Just curious. "

in most states "perversion" is illegal; but not enforced...

[chuckles]

Type "age of consent" into Google. You will be horrified! In fact, one of the many uses of NAMBLA's info was where to go to get the youngest stuff. They have excursions to places like Thailand where you can buy even toddlers.

[cavtrooper21]

This is just WRONG!!!

[Elsie]

Labor MP Peter Primrose, who was in favour of the move

Gosh, with a moniker like THAT, whatcha expect!?!?!?!

[RLK]

Next week it will be lowered to 12 or eight given the detectable precociousness and maturity of the kids. Australia was once a sane country many years ago.

[Travis McGee]

The over 21 or older predator who "helps" a 16 year old boy to "discover his repressed sexual identity" should be hung slowly, and left swinging to rot at a crossroads outside town.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I was thinking the same thing. Australia was once a colony for jailbirds. Now it can be a colony for "poofters"!

[cavtrooper21]

Rusty needle in the spine....

[Travis McGee]

Whatever hurts the most and lasts the longest.

[Black Agnes]

Australia, land of the chickenhawks.

[dighton]

... a historic conscience vote ...

This isn't benevolence, progress, or conscience. It's predators drooling after prey.

[Polycarp]

(Careful, you're being intolerant and very un-libertarian.)

[Salvation]

**THE age of consent for homosexual males in NSW is set to be lowered to 16 years, after a historic conscience vote in the State's Upper House tonight.**

Not a good sign at all.

[Polycarp]

Country

Heterosexual

Homosexual F/F

Homosexual M/M

Canada

14

14

18

USA by State:
Alabama	16	illegal	illegal
Alaska	16	16	16
Arizona	18	illegal	illegal
Arkansas	16	illegal	illegal
California	18	18	18
Colorado	17	17	17
Connecticut	15 (pc) 16 (npc)	no current law	no current law
D.C.	16	no current law	no current law
Delaware	16 (pc) 18 (npc)	no current law	no current law
Florida	18	illegal	illegal
Georgia	16 (under challenge)	16	16
Hawaii	14	no current law	no current law
Idaho	16 (pc) 18 (npc)	illegal	illegal
Illinois	17	17	17
Indiana	16	16	16
Iowa	14(pc) 18(npc)	no current law	no current law
Kansas	16	illegal	illegal
Kentucky	16	no current law	no current law
Louisiana	17	illegal (under appeal)	illegal (under appeal)
Maine	16	16	16
Maryland	16	no current law	no current law
Massachusetts	16 (pc) 18 (npc)	illegal	illegal
Michigan	16	illegal	illegal
Minnesota	16	illegal	illegal
Mississippi	16	illegal	illegal
Missouri	17	illegal	illegal
Montana	16 (pc) 18 (npc)	18	18
Nebraska	17	no current law	no current law
Nevada	16	18	18
New Hampshire	16	18	18
New Jersey	16	16	16
New Mexico	17	13 (under appeal)	13 (under appeal)
New York	17	17	17
North Carolina	16	illegal	illegal
North Dakota	18	18	18
Ohio	16	no current law	no current law
Oklahoma	16	illegal	illegal
Oregon	18	18	18
Pennsylvania	16	16	16
Rhode Island	16	no current law	no current law
South Carolina	14 (pc) 16 (npc)	illegal	illegal
South Dakota	16	no current law	no current law
Tennessee	18	no current law	no current law
Texas	17	illegal	illegal
Utah	16 (pc) 18 (npc)	illegal	illegal
Vermont	16	no current law	no current law
Virginia	18	illegal	illegal
Washington	16	16	16
West Virginia	16	no current law	no current law
Wisconsin	18	18	18
Wyoming	16 (pc) 18 (npc)	no current law	no current law
Members - US Military	16	"don't ask, don't tell"	"don't ask, don't tell"
USA Citizen Outside USA	18	no current law	no current law

• Where it says "no current law" assume that the age of consent is the same as for heterosexuals, but know that it may change.
  
• Where it says "illegal" this means the act is illegal regardless of your age.
  
• Where two ages appear the following abbreviations mean: (pc) = with parental consent (npc) = without parental consent.
  
• All listed ages are based on legislation NOT court decisions and are current as of July 2000. Subject to change.