AboutEd Buckner Expertise Nationally known freethinker will answer questions on church and state, including giving specific quotations and historical or logical support on religious liberty questions. I`m an expert on the U.S. Constitution, First Amendment, and the Treaty with Tripoli (1796-97). I am a Regional Director for the Council for Secular Humanism, active in the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and a leader of the Atlanta Freethought Society and The Georgia Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. I earned a Ph.D.in Educational Leadership from Georgia State University in 1983.
Expert: Ed Buckner Date: 11/8/2007 Subject: Non-Sexual Relationships between minor and adult
Question Hello,
I was wondering if it was in anyway against the law for a 14 year old girl to have a social/non-sexual relationship with an 18 year old guy? My friend's parents are try to say so, and I was helping her find a way to show them that it might be okay?
Answer Dear Jessie,
I'm not really an expert on this, but I know a little about it. The age of consent--the age when someone is considered by law old enough to marry or to knowingly agree to sex--varies from one state to another. If a person is not yet that old and has sex with an adult, the adult can indeed get into big trouble--get charged with statutory rape and be labelled a sex offender and have his life ruined. It may even be possible for this to happen to him if you don't have sex, if someone accuses him of having sex with a minor.
All those involved, or who might be, should talk to an adult you trust--a high school counselor, a parent, etc.--or some agency like Planned Parenthood or maybe the ACLU--to see what your rights and your risks are where you live.
