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I was watching the Early Show, and Harry Smith was interviewing a woman named Stephanie Anderson, a DA from Maine, I think. She was outraged by schools handing out birth control, and she's seen to it that in her state, it is illegal for anyone of the age 14 or under to engage in any sexual act, regardless of who they're with.

She went so far as to say, that instead of encouraging teens to have protected sex, that they go back to teaching an all abstinence based sexual education, AND if anyone 14 or under is caught in a sexual act they should be charged with Criminal Sexual Assault and prosecuted.

Now, as a parent myself, the idea of 14 year olds experimenting with their sexuality terrifies me, my friends and I were a few years older before any of us even had boyfriends, however, I think that this is beyond ridiculous. I don't understand how people can possibly think that abstinence-only education is an education at all.

I was happy to see that Harry didn't agree with her points of view. He said something along the lines of "Who are you to decide who gets to be the sex police?" and I was pleased.

I couldn't find anything about this particular interview online, but I did find a small article involving Anderson's views on the topic, here.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it is a felony. The schools are supposed to report ANY activity that's sexual, unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) there aren't any strict guidelines as to what acts would be "offensive."

The idea is, that if they caught two 14 year olds "experimenting" together, they would both be charged, and if Anderson had her way, prosecuted.

Alternet on 'Harmful To Minors' by Judith Levine

Best book ever written about underage sexuality. Basically, it argues that "protecting" young people from sex is what's harmful. Read it.

Anyway... I think this law is bullshit. They're both kids, and as long as no manipulation or coercion is going on, it's perfectly healthy. They just need to use safer sex practices.