Sex and the Law 

On 26^th July 2000 the Home Office unveiled an official consultation paper recommending major reforms of sex related criminal codes. Many of these outdated laws were formed in 1885 and a reform has been long overdue. An official committee reviewing the sexual offences law completed the work it began in January 1999 and submitted its findings to cabinet ministers on 19^th May 2000.

Two major points were focussed on to bring Britain in line with the rest of Europe after the EU passed the European Human Rights Act which was coming into British law in October 2000. These two key points were to lower the age of consent for gay sex to 16 and to repeal the Thatcherite section 28 that prohibited local governments devoting resources to promoting homosexuality although other minority groups may equally call for the same funding.

Other laws obviously required urgent attention, as they were over 200 years old. For equalities sake, two men kissing in public could qualify as gross indecency punishable by up to five years imprisonment and only men could be charged with indecent exposure or pimping.

New tougher laws were proposed to protect male victims of sexual assaults, as well as children exploited by adults in positions of authority and women victims of "date rape." The review of the term incest, which only applied to blood relatives, not to stepparents or in-laws, was to be reviewed also. Different charges applied to men and women for consensual sex with underage minors.

The Blair government decided that the offences of gross indecency and buggery should be repealed; those aspects of the offences providing protection for children, vulnerable people and animals would be replaced by our other proposals. The gross indecency statute applied exclusively to sex between men, making it a criminal act if any third party is present. In a loop hole the third party was often the arresting officer.

There was no recommendation to decriminalise pornography or prostitution, although a change in the definition of prostitution was suggested.

In November 2000 the age of consent for homosexuals was forced through as law after the government used the Parliament Act to over ride the House of Lords who had rejected the bill three times. 

In June 2002 the new Home Secretary David Blunkett predicted new legislation on homosexuality would be ready by autumn. Among the laws to be scrapped was one, which made it illegal for two men to engage in sex in a hotel bedroom. Another prevented two men from kissing in public and buggery would no longer be illegal between consenting gay people.

Gay and straight couples would be permitted to have sex "in an isolated place where one would reasonably expect not to be observed." Doggers throughout the UK welcomed this.

With each new sexual persuasion there comes a question of legality. Whatever is deemed as legal within the eyes of the law may not be to the liking of the perpetrators of the acts. If a sexual act can be done in the privacy of one’s own home then no one but the parties involved will know including the law. The old philosophy of ‘do what you want in your own home’ is a good benchmark. It is when the act is brought into public view that the perpetrators need to respect the feelings of others on the grounds of common decency. Not all of us want to see certain sex acts but the militants of sex want to show everybody what they do as if seeking to shock and gain attention. The bottom line is to respect the views of others. Not everyone wants to be shown how big a dildo someone can fit into their anus or how much wee they can drink…its personal choice. For those that want to do as they please regardless of how offended others maybe…. I like shooting things. Can I show you the next time you’re walking towards me in the street? No? I didn’t think so, and nor would I as it comes out of respect for others and their feelings.

Avante Swingers©