# Is 16 too young for homosexual sex? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 22, 2003, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769 "2003-05-22T08:16:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/21 "2003-05-22T17:52:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Meatros \* > \*\*Hehehe…\*Not to mention that homosexuals are generally better looking, treat people better, and are more interesting to women… > \*\* “Homosexuals are good for us. They reduce competition for the fine women. They keep us all looking nice. Homosexuals decorate our homes, our lives, with their elegant shades of pink and purple. When you see a finely decorated home, thank god for homos.” ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/22 "2003-05-22T18:31:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \* > \*\*Speaking of the Dark Ages, how do you think _I_ feel here in the USA, where gay sex isn’t even LEGAL in some places? \*\* So true. So sad. If anybody tried to even suggest this bill in the United States, they would be jailed for being a pedophile. I used to work at a coed private school with kids from 14 to 18. About half of the 14 year olds were still sexually clueless, but the other half was already having their first sexual escapades. By the time they were 16, I would guess 90% had either had intercourse, or had firmly decided to wait for the right person at the right time. By the way, this was 15 years ago! But to deny kids that age the legal freedom to do what they are going to do anyway is simply stupid. Perhaps when the US is the last country on earth not to have this law…nah, not even then. You’d have an easier time lowering the age to enter the army at 16 than to lower the age to have sex. ---
**Author:** ![MSU\_1978](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@MSU\_1978](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MSU_1978)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/23 "2003-05-22T18:39:30Z")
16 is too young for any informed sexual consent. Too much risk of disease. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/24 "2003-05-22T19:14:00Z")
I agree with Chef. Wait til you’re 17 for any sort of sex. 17 is The right age. 17 ---
**Author:** ![Pablito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@Pablito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pablito)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/25 "2003-05-22T19:15:57Z")
On the other hand, I’m imagining what the world would be like if it were mandatory for everyone, when they turn 16, to experience homosexual sex with a peer. On your 16th birthday, you go to the D.M.V., get your driver’s license, get tested for STDs, receive a condom, and then get assigned a same-sex partner to have sex with. -everyone gets educated (and experienced) in practicing safe-sex while they are still young; -no more stigma attached to having ‘experimented a little’ when you were younger; -not as many ignorant homophobics in adulthood; -increased acceptance and understanding of homosexuality in the general population; -safe, same-sex sex accepted as an appropriate outlet for raging hormones, so fewer teen pregnancies; And best of all, not as many ‘bi-curious’ ads by men in their 30’s and 40’s in the personals. ---
**Author:** ![Priam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@Priam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Priam)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/26 "2003-05-22T19:40:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pablito \* > \*\* > -everyone gets educated (and experienced) in practicing safe-sex while they are still young; > -no more stigma attached to having ‘experimented a little’ when you were younger; > -not as many ignorant homophobics in adulthood; > -increased acceptance and understanding of homosexuality in the general population; > -safe, same-sex sex accepted as an appropriate outlet for raging hormones, so fewer teen pregnancies; \*\* And maybe, just maybe, this sorry teenager can get laid? ;j ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/27 "2003-05-22T22:02:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SnoopyFan \* > \*\*I think 16 is too young for ANY kind of sex. \*\* I have to agree with you, having read too many sob stories by idiots asking if you can use Saran Wrap as a condom. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/28 "2003-05-23T00:49:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SnoopyFan \* > \*\*I think 16 is too young for ANY kind of sex. \*\* Well, your body seems to disagree with you. Onset of puberty is generally between age 12-14 nowdays (at least for american kids). And if your body/human evolution/God (your pick) has decided that it’s time for you to be reproduction-capable, who are we to say otherwise? You can pass all the restrictive laws you want, most kids will continue ignoring them, just as kids have all thru history. Biology trumps legislative idiocy. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/29 "2003-05-23T02:11:05Z")
> [@](#): > > On the other hand, I’m imagining what the world would be like if it were mandatory for everyone, when they turn 16, to experience homosexual sex with a peer. On your 16th birthday, you go to the D.M.V., get your driver’s license, get tested for STDs, receive a condom, and then get assigned a same-sex partner to have sex with. Gah. Some of us are neither homophobes nor curious, you know. > [@](#): > > -safe, same-sex sex accepted as an appropriate outlet for raging hormones, so fewer teen pregnancies Not to get into this, but you’re either interested in having gay sex or you’re not… few people are going to think “well, I don’t want to get a girl pregnant, I’ll just do a guy.” ---
**Author:** ![Pablito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@Pablito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pablito)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/30 "2003-05-23T02:27:57Z")
Hey, **Marley23** – 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/31 "2003-05-23T02:52:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MSU 1978 \* > \*\*16 is too young for any informed sexual consent. Too much risk of disease. \*\* There is no risk of disease if neither 16 year-old partner has any diseases. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/32 "2003-05-23T03:03:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MSU 1978 \* > \*\*16 is too young for any informed sexual consent. Too much risk of disease. \*\* You can’t catch an STD when you’re 17 or 18? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/33 "2003-05-23T05:43:39Z")
Pablito- 😉 > [@](#): > > On your 16th birthday, you go to the D.M.V., get your driver’s license, get tested for STDs, receive a condom, and then get assigned a same-sex partner to have sex with. If you can stay horny after hours on line at the DMV surrounded by the world’s ugliest people (who are always there), something’s wrong. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Dracul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/50afbb/32.png) [@Vlad\_Dracul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Dracul)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/34 "2003-05-23T06:45:37Z")
Tossing out the various reactionary and “wishful thinking” motivations, the ultimate issue is informed consent. That’s the problem, of course. How to define who has the ability to GIVE informed consent. I hate to draw a line at some age, because people mature at different rates. ``` To deter pedophiles, how about outlawing sex with anyone less than, say, 80 percent of your own age? This would cease to apply when the younger participant reaches the age at which he/she can vote (whatever that turns out to be). ``` This would avoid harrassing hormonal kids, while providing for punishing those dirty old men who like children, or who take advantage of the immaturity and stupidity of many teens. As for the gay/straight/bi/multiple/beastiality question… just keep it down! People are trying to sleep! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![otherwiseknownas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/59ef9b/32.png) [@otherwiseknownas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otherwiseknownas)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/35 "2003-05-23T09:49:05Z")
I want to thank everyone for thier opinions, i was half expecting to be ridiculed for asking the question in the first place but you’ve all proved what i knew already, that were all an intelligent bunch of people. That and the fact that the bill should be passed to enable people of all sexual persuasions to be entitiled to the same rights. ---
**Author:** ![MSU\_1978](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@MSU\_1978](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MSU_1978)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/36 "2003-05-23T16:20:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > \*\*You can’t catch an STD when you’re 17 or 18? 😕 \*\* Of course you can. I’m raising my 4th teenager and I can tell you there is a lot of maturation going on from 16 to 18. The 18 year old is far more likely to use a condom and to ask the right questions of a potential sex partner. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/37 "2003-05-23T17:08:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by EhhMon \* > \*\*If its safe and doesn’t get anyone pregnant…sure! \*\* If it does get them pregnant I think it should be reported immediately. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/38 "2003-05-23T20:55:52Z")
> [@](#): > > I can tell you there is a lot of maturation going on from 16 to 18. That’s why they spend so much time locked in the bathroom. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![phraser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a88e4f/32.png) [@phraser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phraser)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/39 "2003-05-24T11:32:47Z")
While I (of course) support changing the law for equality, I don’t think it really makes a difference what the law says- people will start shagging when they want to. I (living in QLD) started at age 12 (and it was, coincidentally, same sex). ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769/40 "2003-05-24T14:26:40Z")
16 is not too young to consent to sex with a partner of similar age but is too young to consent to sex with the the middleaged predators that the sort of people who find it appropriate to legislate these sorts of things are sure lurk around every corner. Isn’t the most likely scenario in which the age of consent would be a factor a case in which there was some sort of criminal allegation? I agree with **phraser**. When I was a tenager I had no idea what the age was in my state. In fact I still don’t. Never crossed my mind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-16-too-young-for-homosexual-sex/176769.md?page=3)