Gay consent age lowered to 16

Thursday 6th July 2006, 12:00AM BST.

GAY teenagers have won the right to have sex at 16.

The States decided last night by 38 votes to 11 to lower the age of consent and so remove the inequality between straight and gay couples, in the face of pressure from the European Court of Human Rights.

Home Affairs Minister Wendy Kinnard won support for the Draft Sexual Offences Law after an amendment by Deputy James Reed seeking to limit its effect to gay couples was rejected by the House by a 39-3 margin.

Members then adopted the principle of her proposed law by 38 votes to 11.

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