Sir: Despite John Torode, CHE has never supported the Paedophile
Information Exchange. The Bill which we have drawn up and which we are endeavouring to have sponsored in Parliament seeks to make the age of consent for homosexuals the same as it is for heterosexuals (i.e. sixteen), not to lower the age generally.
However, as an organisation which represents a group of people who have been the victims of prejudice and oppression, CHE is naturally slow to condemn others in a similar position. Privately many of us feel that an age of consent is an artificial concept. Obviously there is a point below which a child cannot meaningfully consent to a sexual act. One may well feel (as I do) that it is closely related to the age of puberty. However, it is not helpful of Mr Torode to use the term 'child-molesters' in respect to all people who have sex with prepubertal children. 'Molestation' implies the use of compulsion, whether physical or moral, which CHE would unhesitatinglY condemn. Indeed, our Bill seeks to strengthen the protections given to young people against sexual exploitation.
Nigel Hart Campaign for Homosexual Equality, 33 King Street, Manchester
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