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In reply to the discussion: Kaitlyn Hunt's mother under attack by bloggers who say 'Free Kate' is all lies [View all]Ms. Toad
(34,060 posts)it is that I don't believe consensual sexual activity is a matter for the criminal justice system. I also know the difficulties of telling someone else's story accurately. Ages change when birthdays occur and during the relevant times the ages ranged from 14-15 for the younger girl and from 17-18 for the older one (depending on whether the girls met in summer programs associated with their extra-curricular activities.
I don't know whether homophobia was involved or not, but it may well have been. Unfortunately it is not uncommon for parents to freak out about their LGBT children. Many are kicked out of their homes, forced into ex-gay ministries, or otherwise ostracized for activities which would not have been subject to disfavor or punishment. I believe that (or bending over backward to not appear to favor LGBT relationships) is the source of a lot of the heat on DU (even though I am sure those most heated will deny it). The reality is that despite numerous claims that people on DU would be calling for the head of any 18 year old boy having a sexual relationship with a 14 year old girl (and that it has happened every time it came up here) - and despite my repeated request to any links on DU supporting that - no one has provided a single link.