Interesting that all threads concerned with minors versus sex acts and the viewing of same always drag up the age of consent worldwide thing. Many of us are quite ignorant of the true facts on this matter in other parts of the world to our own, I am one.

Well here in the UK the legal age of sexual consent and marriage is '16' for both straight and gay genders, yes they're allowing gay marriage as well now in places, and 16 yr old boys can legally be humped up the rear.
Lesbianism is still not classed as a sex act by the way and no legislation exists regarding same in truth, although it is now mentioned in some guidlines where it didn't used to be.

The age of maturity is another thing though, screw an over 13 yr old and you're looking at possible retribution depending on circumstances, under 13 and you're done no matter what.
Most societies it seems consider 13 to be the age of sexual maturity, that is the, kid is big enough, but not old enough to make sensible decisions on such things in his/her head.

The government here have recently dragged in a panic bit of legisalation giving courts power to prosecute adults, (over 18's) who have sex with a legal age 16 yr old, if someone makes a complaint, there is however no law to stop a 50 yr old marrying a 16 yr old with everyones including the parents consent, God knows how they go on about sex after they marry though having regard to law one.

The panic measure was brought in to pacify the few as usual. These few seem to think that stopping 19 yr old's having consentual sex with legal age 16 yr old's will stop paedophiles existing on the Earth. I was under the impression that paedo's picked on underage kids, not legal age young adults, but the few know best don't they.

On the subject of age difference between partners, my wife was 18 when we met, and I was 28, yes 10 yrs between us, doomed to failure wasn't it, that's probably why we've been happily married 25 yrs now and have three happy kids to show for it, when 50 pc of the folks we know who married same age partners are now divorced, some several times over.

pops.............