States to decide on gay consent

Jersey politicians will debate reducing the gay age of consent from 18 to 16, in line with heterosexuals this week.

UK pressure groups have commented ahead of any change. Gay rights group Stonewall said it was a matter of treating people equally.

But the Christian Institute said it would increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and the chance of young people being preyed upon.

The Council of Ministers is also proposing new abuse of trust laws.

'Over-sexualisation'

Christian Institute spokesman Simon Calvert said the proposed changes raised real concerns.

He said: "There are enormous concerns about the over-sexualisation of young people.

"I think that from magazine stores through to what is taught in sex education is greatly sexualising young people, putting them at risk and making them feel under pressure to have to be involved in something that many of them are simply not ready for."

But Stonewall spokesman Jonathan Finney said different ages of consent implied some people were considered not able to make informed decisions purely because of their sexuality.

He said: "The same issues apply to young gay people as young straight people.

"I think having the different age of consent in place sends out a message that some young people, in this case gay people, are less capable of making informed decisions about their lives as their straight friends."