Acknowledgements

Executive Summary

Introduction

The Research Process

NSW Age of Consent legislation

Homosexual Age of Consent in Australia

Homosexual Age of Consent worldwide

Primary arguments against equalisation

Primary arguments in favour of equalisation

Professional organisations’ positions

Material from Australian Royal Commissions and Government Enquiries

Conclusions

Bibliography

Thematic list of references

MAJOR REPORT - 2001

THE AGE OF CONSENT
AND GAY MEN IN NEW SOUTH WALES

Thematic list of references

1.Young Gay Men and HIV Risk Van de Ven, Paul., Noble, Jason., Kippax, Susan., Prestage, Garrett., Crawford, June., Baxter, Don and Cooper, David (1997) Gay Youth and Their Behaviours: The Sydney Men and Sexual Health Study. AIDS Education and Prevention, 9(5), 395-410. Davies, PM., Wetherburn, P., Hunt AJ., Hickson FCI., McManus, TJ and Coxon, APM (1992) The sexual behaviour of young gay men in England and Wales. AIDS Care, 4(3), 259-272. Evans, BG., Catchpole, MA., Heptonstall, J., Mortimer JY., McCarrigle, CA., Nicoll, AG., Waight, P., Gill, ON and Swan, AV (1993) Sexually Transmitted Diseases and HIV-1 Infection among Homosexual Men in England and Wales. British Medical Journal, 306, 426-428. Dowsett, Gary W (1996) Practicing Desire: Homosexual Sex In The Era Of AIDS. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. Kendall, Christopher (1997) HIV/AIDS Education and the (Mis)representation of Safe Sex. Alternative Law Journal, 22(3), 130-132. Crawford, June., Kippax, Susan., Rodden, Pamela., Donohoe, Simon and Van de Ven, Paul (1998) Male Call 96: National telephone survey of men who have sex with men. Sydney: National Centre in HIV Social Research. Sussman, Todd and Duffy Maureen (1996) Are We Forgetting About Gay Male Adolescents in AIDS-Related Research and Prevention? Youth and Society, 27(3), 370-393. Connell, RW., Crawford, C., Kippax, S., Dowsett, GW., Baxter, D., Watson, L and Berg, R (1989) Facing the Epidemic: Changes in the Sexual Lives of Gay and Bisexual Men in Australia and their Implications for AIDS Prevention Strategies. Social Problems, 36(4), 384-402. Connell, RW and Kippax, Susan (1990) Sexuality in the AIDS Crisis: Patterns of Sexual Practice and Pleasure in a Sample of Australian Gay and Bisexual Men. The Journal of Sex Research, 27(2), 167-198. Ekstrand, Maria L. and Coates, Thomas J (1990) Maintenance of Safer Sexual Behaviors and Predictors of Risky Sex: The San Franciso Men's Health Study. American Journal of Public Health, 80(8), 973-977. Grunseit, A (1994 ) Young People and sex/HIV education: the debate continues. Promotion et Education, 1-2(46).

2. Gay Male Youth Psychosocial Health Issues Kendall, Christopher and Walker, Sonia (1998a) Combating Lesbian and Gay Youth Suicide and HIV/AIDS Transmission Rates: An Examination of Possible Education Strategies in Western Australian High Schools in Light of Prevailing Statutes. Murdoch 67 University Electronic Journal of Law, 5(4). [No page numbers]. URL: http://www.murdoch.edu.au/elaw/issues/v5n4/kendall54nf.html Kulkin, Heidi S., Chauvin, Elizabeth A and Percle, Gretchen A (2000) Suicide Among Gay and Lesbian Adolescents and Young Adults: A Review of the Literature. Journal of Homosexuality, 40(1), 1-29. Rosario, M., Meyer-Bahlburg, H., Hunter, J., Exner, T., Gwadz, M and Keller, A (1996) The Psychosexual Development of Urban Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths. Journal of Sex Research, 33(2), 113-126.

3. Law Reform, Legislative Barriers Evans, David T (1989/90) Section 28: law, myth and paradox. Critical Social Policy, 27, 73-95. Kendall, Christopher and Walker, Sonia (1998b) Teen Suicide, Sexuality and Silence. Alternative Law Journal, 23(5), 216-221. Bull, Melissa., Pinto, Susan and Wilson, Paul (1991) Homosexual Law Reform in Australia. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology. Bolger, Brendan (1998) Consenting to Discriminate. Outrage, 176, 54-56. Stykin, Carl F (1995) Prohibitions and Promotions: A Comparative Analysis of Legal Interventions. Australian Gay and Lesbian Law Journal, 5, 42-64. Clayton, Stevie (1997) Equal age of consent.HIV/AIDS Legal Link, 8(1), p 12. Jeffrey-Poulter, Stephen (1991) Peers, Queers and Commons: The Struggle for Gay Law Reform from 1950 to the Present. London: Routledge.

4. The Netherland's Regime Schuijer, Jan (1991) Tolerance at Arm's Length: The Dutch Experience. Journal of Homosexuality, 20(1-2), 199-229. Faust, Beatrice (1995) Child Sexuality and Age of Consent Laws: The Netherlands Model. Australian Gay and Lesbian Law Journal, 5, 78-85. Brongersma, Edward (1988) A Defence of Sexual Liberty for All Age Groups. The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 27(1), 32-43.

5. Miscellaneous Baker, Carolyn (1983) The 'Age of Consent' Controversy: Age and Gender as Social Practice. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Sociology, 19(1) 97-112. Graupner, Helmut (1999) Love versus Abuse: Crossgenerational Sexual relations of Minors: A Gay Rights Issue? Journal of Homosexuality, 37(4), 23-57. Leahy, Terry (1996) Sex and the Age of Consent: The ethical issues. Social Analysis, 39, 27-55.

6. Royal Commissions/Governmental Reports, etc Royal Commission Into the New South Wales Police Service (1997) Final Report Volume V: The Paedophile Inquiry (Commissioner: The Hon Justice JRT Wood). Sydney: NSW State Government. Model Criminal Code Officers Committee of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (1996) Model Criminal Code Officers Committee of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (1999) Simpson, Rachel and Figgis, Honor (1997) Briefing Paper No 21/97: The age of consent. Sydney: NSW Parliamentary Library Research Service. Simpson, Rachel and Figgis, Honor (1999) Update to Briefing Paper No 21/97: The age of consent: an update. Sydney: NSW Parliamentary Library Research Service QLD Parliamentary Criminal Justice Committee (1990). Royal Commission on Human Relationships Final Report (1977)

7. Professional Associations Legislating fairly for consenting homosexuals [Editorial] (1994) The Lancet, 343(8891), 185-186.

8.Internet Sites Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, NSW, Australia (www.glrl.org.au) Features a factsheet on AOC issues in NSW, a rundown of the Lobby's current campaigns, plus responses to frequently asked questions.

Gay Men's Health Wiltshire, UK (www.gmhp.demon.co.uk) Has section examining AOC debate in UK, outlines key arguments against lowering AOC to 16 and rebuts them (point form, fairly cursory treatment) This group briefed their local MP prior to this debate

National Aids Trust, UK (www.nat.org.uk) Full text of National Aids Trust/Terrence Higgins Trust submission to UK parliament calling for equal AOC at 16. This outlines main arguments vs unequal AOC for gay males (namely criminalisation of young gays, further social isolation/stigma, justification for discrimination, hindering HIV education and limiting community initiatives aimed at young gay men) Again rather cursory treatment but does refer to extant research.

EGALE (Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere), Canada (www.egale.ca) Full text of their submission to Canadian Dept of Justice regarding lowering the AOC (key arguments: equality of law enforcement, inability of young persons to legally date peers, empowering youth, access to health education, lack of consultation with stakeholders)

Stonewall UK (www.stonewall.org.uk) Presents evidence vs the conservative recruitment/seduction thesis, often used as a key justification for higher gay AOC.

Age of Consent, US (www.ageofconsent.com) 69 Features worldwide (national, state and regional) rundown of ages of consent with links to info dossiers on most countries (the Australian dossier is a poorly-organised mish mash, so many of these may be of limited utility)

The Unofficial Chris Morris Website, UK (www.chris-morris.mcmail.com) Chris Morris is a leading UK gay and lesbian human rights activist. At age 16 he petitioned the European Court of Human Rights over the unequal AOC in the UK claiming that discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation was illegal under European law. In 1998 Chris launched the gay youth rights organisation Youthspeak. Youthspeak managed to bring an end to AOC prosecutions against 16/17 yr olds. This site features full texts of Chris's applications to the European Court.

Mogenic.com (www.mogenic.com) Popular and highly sophisticated website of the Sydney-based Mogenic collective. This website is the centre for a online community for young gays and lesbians worldwide. The collective recently produced a highly successful under 18s gay and lesbian dance party in Sydney.