By: Zach Agovino
Kaitlyn Hunt is a 19-year-old from Florida who is
being charged with two counts of felony lewd and lascivious battery in a
relationship involving her underage 14-year-old partner. (1) Cases such as this
are usually cut and dry. Under Florida State law, one who conducts sexual
activity with someone at least 16 years of age and less than 18 years of age
can be charged for both offenses. (3) So why is this case the center of public
outrage and Internet activism? It is because the relationship involves a
lesbian couple, and they are pulling the gay card big time.
The case is drawing much unnecessary
attention. Hunt committed all of the acts that justify her charges, therefore
she should deal with the consequences. Sexuality never was an issue, and never
should have brought this case attention in the first place.
On the online petitioning website Change.org,
150,000 people signed an online petition trying to stop the persecution of
Hunt. (2) This would not be a problem if it targeted changing the law, however
the official letter sent to the State Attorney specifically states that they
are wanting to stop the prosecution of a girl in a same-sex relationship. There
is absolutely no reason to bring up that it is a same-sex relationship, and it
is obvious that it was only done for the attention and publicity.
As Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar said, “If
this was an 18-year-old male and that was a 14-year-old girl, it would have
been prosecuted the same way.” (2) Hunt accepted a plea deal in which she will
plead no contest to five separate charges. She was given the charges of
misdemeanor contributing to the dependency of a child, and two counts each of
felony interference with child custody and misdemeanor battery. (1)
Actually listing out the charges shines another
light. The felony charges came from different times in which Hunt picked up the
14-year-old girl against the wishes of her parents. Even if the two do find
themselves in a relationship, 14 years old is just far too young, regardless of
sex, and the fact that it was consensual. Hunt should have known better than
picking up a minor against the wishes of the parents. (2)
Do not get me wrong, I am not trying to be
completely ill-tempered towards Hunt. I completely feel for her being scared
about losing her life, and I cannot even imagine what it must be like to be in
a situation like that. Unfortunately though, it is the law. As disagreeable as
it may seem, she can’t get a free ride just by yelling discrimination.
Endnotes:
1. Ganim,
Sara. "Gay Florida teen accepts plea deal, prosecutor says." CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/02/justice/florida-gay-teen-kaitlyn-hunt-case/
(accessed January 31, 2014).
2. Hunt,
Steven. "Stop the prosecution of an 18 year old girl in a same-sex
relationship." Change.org.
http://www.change.org/petitions/assistant-state-attorney-brian-workman-stop-the-prosecution-of-an-18-year-old-girl-in-a-same-sex-relationship
(accessed January 31, 2014).
3. Payne,
Ed. "Sheriff to young woman's supporters: Teen sex case is about age, not
gay rights." CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/23/justice/florida-teen-sex-case/index.html
(accessed January 31, 2014).
4. Human
Services Policy. "State Laws." Statutory Rape: A Guide to and
Reporting Requirements.
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/08/sr/statelaws/statelaws.shtml#Florida (accessed
January 31, 2014).
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