Friday, January 31, 2014

Law is Law, No Matter



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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