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Jersey to debate gay consent age |
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Jersey (accessible from Poole by Condor Ferries) could be set to drop its age of consent for gay men to 16, bringing its gay laws closer to the rest of the UK.
The channel island’s government will debate the change following a proposal to change the existing sexual offences legislation.
The move has been prompted by pressure from the European Court of Human
Rights, which has pushed for all member states to not discriminate
against sexual minorities.
Currently, it is illegal for gay men to have sex below the age of 18.
If passed, the changes will see the end to the debate over the gay age of consent.
After a protracted debate, the UK mainland changed the laws in 2003.
Last month, the Isle of Man announced it was to also look into lowering
the consent age after similar pressure from Europe’s court rulings.
The island’s government also said it would debate whether its version
of Section 28 – which barred the “promotion” of homosexuality – was now
redundant.
The State’s of Jersey are set to debate lowering the age of consent later this year.
The delay is because the island is not officially part of the UK or Europe, although it is a Crown Dependency.
Source: Gay.com
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