By now you’ve probably heard about Kaitlyn Hunt, a now-18-year old Florida high school senior who last year started dating a high school freshman girl. When the younger girl’s parents found out, they had Kaitlyn, or “Kate,” arrested, taken away in handcuffs, and charged with two felony counts including “sexual battery on a person 12-16 years old.†Kate, if convicted, could be sentenced to 15 years in jail, and would also become a sex-offender, having to register with the police everywhere she goes, for the rest of her life.
Does anyone really think the younger girl’s parents would have gone to this extent if “Kate” were “Ken”?
“The law needs to change, not only to protect Kate, but to protect the millions of teenagers, boys and girls, straight and gay, whose lives are regularly ruined because parents disapprove of their children’s sexual choices,” Kate’s mother posted on Facebook. “We want justice for all 18-year-old high school seniors who have undergone criminal prosecution for exercising poor judgement in their dating life. Such students are not predators. They’re just kids. Likewise, we believe the law should not be arbitrarily enforced based on a parent’s anger. Parents should be empowered to protect their children, but not at the price of destroying another young person’s life forever.â€
In another Facebook a tear-jerking post, Kate’s mom explains the story.
Jean Ann Esselink a few days ago here at The New Civil Rights Movement wrote about Kate’s plight. Noting Kate has been expelled, Esselink wrote:
Kate was a model student, a varsity athlete, voted “most school spirited†and never in any trouble with either the law or the school. Kate’s girlfriend continues to tell anyone who will listen that the relationship was consensual and that she still loves Kate and does not want her prosecuted. But the school expelled Kate anyway.
There’s a Change.org petition that has been signed by over 160,000 people, a Free Kate Facebook page, and a GoFundMe fundraising page.
MSNBC’s Chris Hayes last night interviewed Kaitlyn Hunt, her mother, and attorney.
Watch:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy