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

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From the website of Queer Radio, the gay & lesbian Community Radio program on 4ZZZ fm102.1 in Brisbane, Australia. File and website maintained by Queer Radio presenter & coordinator John Frame.

The need for community action…

On 28th June 2004 the Attorney General concurred with Premier Peter Beattie in stating they have no plan to reform the Sodomy law, even in this term (up to 2007). As at June 2006 the Premier and Attorney-General still hold fast to a plan of complete inaction in order to preserve cpnservative votes - nothing has changed. Therefore the only way that Queensland youth have a hope of being properly informed is through community action by concerned individuals or groups (whether they are Government funded or not).

Urgent action is needed because the vast majority (~80%) of Queenslanders mistakenly believe that all male-to-male sex involving men under 18 years old is illegal. Men aged 16 and 17 may legally consent to all sexual activities except anal intercourse (actual penile penetration of an anus).

The Government must act, because the current situation leaves many sexually active young men without vital support and health information. Major community service groups such as Family Planning Queensland, Queensland AIDS Council and Brisbane Sexual Health have all advised that they do not target services toward "men who have sex with men" who are aged 16 to 18, because of the prevailing perception that such sexual activities might be illegal. This also contributes to lack of self-esteem, when the only way these men feel natural in expressing love or desire is also broadly tainted by the suggestion of illegality.

The government does not offer information directly to the public about age of consent, but rather refers from their GENERATE site, off to that of the Youth Advocacy Centre which displayed wrong information for several months after I notified them. Their site was amended and has been accurate since 3rd January 2001. The Youth Advocacy Centre has indicated their support for the above mentioned pamphlet.

I was initially prompted to act in February 2000 when an article appeared in our state’s major newspaper, the Courier-Mail on 19th February 2000. A full-page feature-article titled "Reasonable Age" by Deborah Cassrels, claimed that all male-to-male sex was only legal if the participants were aged 18 years and over. I telephoned and also wrote to The Courier Mail in the following week – they refused to print either a correction or a retraction.

Community Support Already Shown For This Action:

I have received some excellent supportive emails regarding the question of whether accurate information on age of consent and legal sexual activity should be readily available to the public. Please read them and consider sending your own words of support to jvframe@ozemail.com.au.

Last updated 5th June 2006