*Age Of Consent & Legal Sexual Activity for the State of Queensland, Australia - A campaign to remove our Sodomy Law (which was enacted in 1990).

RETURN to opening page

10^th April 2003 Email to the Courier Mail “letters” regarding their article “Report calls for earlier sex education”(Judy Skatssoon CM 9^th April 2003, P 15) regarding the release of a report on “The Australian Study of Health and Relationships”. The CM article states that sex is known to be happening for men and women at 16 and that 9% of men have either done sex with men or have wanted to. This is a powerful statistical tool to influence the Beattie Government toward swifter reform of the Qld Sodomy Law. My emailed letter states that Queensland law needs to be amended before effective sex education can take place.

---

To the Editor:

Re: law change needed for proper sex ed

The CM reported 9th April on the need for early and effective sex education considering the results of the recent Australian Study of Health and Relationships.

Significantly you quote that 9 percent of men have "experienced same-sex attraction and behaviour" and that the age of first intercourse is now likely to be 16 for both men and women.

Those 9 percent of Queensland men aged 16 who are statistically likely to "experience same sex attraction and behaviour" currently do not get any pro-active sex education at all in that regard. Why? Because for 13 years we've had a law that bans anal intercourse ("sodomy") until the age of 18 and no-one in authority likes to talk about the taboo subject of anal intercourse.

Anal intercourse is NOT the primary form of sex between men, but it is indeed the most hazardous activity for infection - especially in regard to HIV. I'm sure most parents want their sons properly prepared to care for their sexual health - regardless of what their sexuality may seem to be. A side benefit of suitably inclusive sex education will be improved self-acceptance and peer acceptance for those young men who may actually be gay or bisexual.

Our Premier, the Hon. Mr. Peter Beattie MP, chaired the 1990 Committee which clearly advised the Goss-led Parliament against enacting a Sodomy Law. His Committee's report said that the age of consent should be 16 - with no higher age for any particular gender or sexual activity. The Beattie Government should act immediately to amend the law so that schools and services can be empowered to give fully effective, inclusive sex education.

yours sincerely,

John Frame

82 Main Avenue,

Wavell Heights 4012

10th April 2003
Ph: 3350 1562 / 0409 501 561
jvframe@bigpond.net.au