11 June 2007

Let's Talk About Sex

"Let's talk about sex for now to the people at home or in the crowd
It keeps coming up anyhow
Don't decoy, avoid, or make void the topic
Cuz that ain't gonna stop it...
Let's tell it how it is, and how it could be
How it was, and of course how it should be
Those who think it's dirty have a choice
Pick up the needle, press pause, or turn the radio off..."
~ Salt n Pepa

Really, though. It is amazing how it is 2007 and people are afraid to talk about sex, afraid to change rules on sex, afraid to do things outside the box, so to speak.

Genarlow Wilson was in the news again today. When he was a senior (17) he received oral sex from a sophomore (15). They were at a hotel party. The boys were drinking, the girl admitted that she did not drink that night. Everyone, including the girl and the prosecution agreed that the girl had initiated the act. She had consented, but the Georgia age of consent was 16, so her admission meant nothing. Wilson was charged with aggravated child molestation. The jury convicted him. Many jurors were shocked to find out that the sentence would be 10 years. But it was too late for them to do anything about it.

There are outdated laws all across this country like the one that changed this man's -- at the time this boy's -- life. The law said that it was a misdemeanor for teenagers less than three years apart to have sex. And a felony for the same teenagers to have oral sex. What? Doesn't really make sense, huh?

But there are more crazy laws. In North Carolina a law says that "While having sex, you must stay in the missionary position and have the shades pulled." Another law says that "Oral sex is a crime against nature" punishable as a felony with up to 10-12 months in prison.

The state legislature in Georgia changed the law to a misdemeanor instead of a felony, but that did not help Genarlow Wilson since the law was not retroactive. His life was ruined. He was a good student (3.2 GPA), never in trouble with the law, football star with a lot of college prospects. As of right now, there is still the possibility that he may not be let out of prison, since some higher ups in Georgia are still trying to appeal the judges decision to release him. Wilson is going to likely be put on the sex offender registry. Which would mean he couldn't even return to his family since he has an eight year old sister, and would be forbidden contact with his own sister.

Now, I guess we just sit and wait for the decision to be made in this state. And we all continue to violate outdated laws in our states simply by lifting our legs while having sex, or having the girl be on top. Crazy. This is our nation. These our our states' rules.

They still exist.

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