Libertine: On the Prowl

Vidi, vici, veni -- I saw, I conquered, I came. _______________________________________________________________

Genarlow Wilson to Join Campaign to Educate Teens About Sex Laws

01:03, 2007-Oct-30 .. Posted in news .. 5 comments .. Link

Though the law that originally sentenced Genarlow Wilson to prison for ten years for a consensual blow job has been ameliorated, most teens remain ignorant of the laws that govern the sexual activity of teenagers. Indeed, many parents are likewise unaware of the laws that cover consensual teen sex.

But the fact remains that even though the law that sent Wilson to prison has been ameliorated, milder laws still remain on the book that classify even consensual sex between teens close in age as crimes that still have the possibility of jail time. Thought it's relatively rare that boyfriend/girlfriend cases are prosecuted, Wilson's case shows that it still can happen.

Laws vary in different states, as do the ages of consent which range from 14 to 18. Some states have moved in recent months to add so-called Romeo and Juliet exceptions to prevent sexually active teenagers from being lumped together with child molesters. "I think there is a view now that 'hey, maybe we overdid it on the sex offender registry,'" said Larry Landis, executive director of the Indiana Public Defender Council.

Other states, however still insist on categorizing boyfriend/girlfriend sex in with pedophiles and rapists, obliging those convicted to likewise register as dangerous sex offenders.

"We do a disgraceful job of educating kids about the very real consequences that they face," said J. Tom Morgan, a former DeKalb County district attorney.

"If society is going to punish them as adults," said Morgan, "then society ought to educate them."

In an interview with the Associated Press, Genarlow Wilson said that he believes that sex education classes are lacking.

"Most of the time they just tell kids, 'Use condoms,'" Wilson said. "That's not the only thing they need to know about sex. They need to know that they can actually go to jail."

Wilson intends appear on behalf of an organization set up by his lawyer to help teens learn their rights.

It would be easy and understandable for Wilson to want to forget about his time in jail and to put it behind him, but I find it commendable that he wants to help others avoid what happened to him.

Thoughts?

Leave a Comment

Untitled Comment

02:16, 2007-Oct-30 .. Posted by womanoffeathers
What's really sad is the fact that the young man in question was a star student and athlete with a fantastic future ahead of him ... but this white girl was more afraid of her father knowing that she preferred this young man ... despite the fact that he was black ... and opted to ruin this young man's life than get beaten by her father.

With that said ...

Yes ... there needs to be truthful and realistic sexual education in our schools, cause if they think that every teenager is going to abstain because their parents or ministers told them to ... they need to pull their head out of the sand and see the real world.

Another point ...

Young girl, 16 and young boy, 17, have been dating all through high school and plan to marry after both graduate ... same couple have been having consensual sex with each other for the last 6 months (using protection and first time for both). Boy turns 18 ... they are at a "Lover's Lane" and a cop "discovers" them ... boy goes to jail for statutory rape with a "minor child" ... and you know the rest.

Yeah ... a lot of things need to be changed.

Untitled Comment

02:21, 2007-Oct-30 .. Posted by dantesinferno
No, no thought. The ignorance of some human beings has caused my brain to dissolve, and I need a day to reboot it.

<i>Untitled Comment</i>

06:42, 2007-Oct-30 .. Posted by Aielman
I guess I was lucky in that regard. Twice, once in high school, and once in college, the school had someone come in and discuss the state laws regarding sex, and what the consequences were.

I do think it not only is a good idea, but should be required during that same set of sex ed/ health classes that we make every child take.

We think little of handing out condoms, or in the case of a school district in Maine, birth control pills. But we don't educate kids as to why keeping your dick in your pants, or at least being very selective about where you put it, is pretty important at that age, both from a health standpoint and from a legal standpoint.

...

07:09, 2007-Oct-30 .. Posted by jeremy
I think it's absolutely insane, indeed it appears to me to be targeting a vulnerable minority rather than protecting them. Of course, teenagers are packed with hormones, you cannot blame them for wanting to try stuff on right? It seems to me that these laws (where they do exist) are borderline puritanical and somebody needs to inject some common sense into the situation.

Untitled Comment

09:50, 2007-Oct-30 .. Posted by littleMissConfused
I am glad the young man is going to help other kids. It proves he is a better human being then some that have never faced jail time.

I hope sex education has come along way since I was in school. Back then the only thing we were taught was the biological way a baby was created and how to prevent it.

I think more needs to be taught about how to say "no" when the hormones kick in. I know I was one of them that had no idea how to say that word and sometimes after the fact I regretted it. I hate to say it but I think that is the case in some of these younger "date rape" cases. The girl didn't know how to say no...went along with the sex...then decided it was wrong.

Maybe if more young people knew the laws, they would either not do it, or be more careful about getting caught!