I'm going to try and remain unemotional on this subject, because I have mixed feelings. First, it IS illegal, whatever your moral stance. Second, "tearoom", "cottaging", whatever has decreased to close to zero since AIDS has become so prevalent. Anonymous sex is going to always be more of a hazard, in more ways than one, than sex with someone you know to at least some extent. One thing that I want to point out to the straight folk who are getting on amoral high horse, however, is that the times WERE different. If gay men had been able to have the same venues for meeting other gay men, for whatever reason, without hate, harassment, and arrest, then likely tearoom sex never would have become that popular. As others have pointed out, while the underage sex was illegal, and likely affected some young men negatively, it had a positive, freeing, liberating affect on others, because they finally KNEW they weren;t totally alone, and destined to be alone and despised forever. I personally feel a young mans first sexual experiences should be with someone their own age, simply because there is less of a chance of a major control factor being involved, and thus more equal and balanced. But different people have different attractions, and opportunities. Yours are no more or less moral than others, and unless you have never done anything against anyone or anything before in your life, it is not your right or place to pass judgement. You are free to not agree with something, you are free to express your opinion, you are even free to work with others to pass laws that you feel are just. Butyou don;t havethe right to pass moral judgment. Unless you have lived exactly the same experience, then you can;t have a real understanding of the situation. End of rant.
