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'Predatory': CA Gov. Signs Law to Reduce Penalties for LGBT Sex with Minors

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ABOVE: The California Family Council's Jonathan Keller appeared on Wednesday's afternoon edition of CBN's Newswatch to explain the new law. Newswatch is seen weekdays on the CBN News Channel

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill into law on Friday that allows judges to determine whether an adult should be listed as a sex offender after engaging in sexual activity with a minor, especially LGBT sex acts.

SB 145 widens the discretion that is already granted to judges when deciding if a man should be listed on the state's sex offender registry. 

The bill was pitched as an attempt to create LGBT equality because the current discretion only applies to a male who has had vaginal intercourse. The new law permits judges to use the same discretion when the incident involves oral or anal sex.

The measure applies to minors aged 14 and older, up to an age difference of 10 years between the two sex partners.

State Sen. Scott Wiener (D), who introduced the SB 145, said on social media that Newsom's signing of the bill ended "blatant discrimination" against LGBTQ youth in California by treating them "the exact same way that straight young people have been treated since 1944. Today, California took yet another step toward an equitable society."

The bill has been criticized by politicians across the state who insist that sex between a teenager and someone 10 years older is immoral and unjust. 

Even some Democrats are opposed to the new law. Assembly Appropriation Committee Chair Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) said, "Any sex is sex. I don't care who it is between or what sex act it is. That being said, I cannot in my mind as a mother understand how sex between a 24-year-old and a 14-year-old could ever be consensual, how it could ever not be a registerable offense."

"We should never give up on this idea that children are not, should be in any way subject to a predator. And that is what it is…. Give me a situation where a 24-year-old had sex with a 14-year-old, any kind of sex, and it wasn't predatory. Any example and I have yet to see it," she said.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer (R-San Diego) tweeted, "As a parent I'm appalled that last night our governor signed a law maintaining a 24-year-old can have sex with a 14-year-old and it not be considered predatory. An adult who commits ANY sex act on a minor 10 years younger must be registered a sex offender. Law must be changed."

Major Williams, a Republican, who's running for governor of California in 2022, tweeted his strong disapproval of the bill citing that the law must change.

"I'm a parent. I'm appalled by Gavin signing #SB145 maintaining a 24-year-old can have sex with a 14-year-old & it not be considered predatory. An adult who commits ANY sex act on a minor 10 years younger must be registered a sex offender. CHANGE THIS LAW!," he wrote.

And state Sen. Melissa Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore) condemned Newsom for signing the controversial bill, calling it "absolutely disgusting."

"Well what a shock. Newsom signed SB145, the bill that allows a 24 year old to have sex with a 14 year old and escape a felony conviction and requirement to be a registered sex offender. Absolutely disgusting."

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About The Author

Andrea Morris
Andrea
Morris

Andrea Morris is a Features Producer for The 700 Club. She came to CBN in 2019 where she worked as a web producer in the news department for three years. Her passion was always to tell human interest stories that would touch the hearts of readers while connecting them with God. She transitioned into her new role with The 700 Club in August 2022.