Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 10:43:35 +0000
From: James Heartfield <James-AT-heartfield.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: SV: M-TH: Lesbians and gays


In message <3.0.1.16.19971231221944.2527e3ea-AT-hn.pl.net>, Andrew Allen
Walton <reed-AT-hn.pl.net> writes
>Maybe Rebecca should post something that defends why Workers Power are
>called the kiddie fuckers of the left in Britain? While we are on the
>subject of sexuality?

Oh please! I've never been all that keen on WP's Trotsky fetish, but
surely we're all astute enough to know that the charge of child abuse is
just an hysteric's attempt to close down all discussion.

WP's position on the age of consent is in my view wrong, but for
laudable reasons. Around the time when the British govt. was passing
laws against homosexuality ('Clause 28'), many of us on the left
vigourously opposed state intervention into sexual lives. The inequality
of the age of consent for gay and straight sex is a formal marker of gay
inequality that the left opposed.

WP just looked at the thing a bit too formally and decided any state
enforced age of consent was repressive. They were not motivated by a
desire to have sex with children, only a formalistic opposition to state
interference (missing the fact that the law only formalises the age of
majority, which would exist in any developed society).

The proper answer to the question
>why Workers Power are
>called the kiddie fuckers of the left in Britain?
then, is because the left in Britain prefers to abuse its opponents than
to engage in real debate.

Fraternally
-- 
James Heartfield


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