The Honorable Jim Nathanson
Chair, The Committee on the Judiciary D.C. City Council
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Gertrude Stein Democratic Club (GSDC) wishes to commend you on your excellent and
fair hearing on bill 10-30. You conducted yourself in an exemplary manner and treated
everyone with courtesy and respect. We are also very pleased to learn of your tentative
schedule for consideration of this legislation.
There are two issues which the GSDC feels very strongly should be addressed at the
legislative mark-up on February 10. The following are official positions of GSDC voted on
by the membership:
1 - The Gertrude Stein Democratic Club firmly opposes
raising the ‘age of consent’ of 16 for sexual activity, currently specified in
bill 10-30 reforming the DC sodomy law. This position pertains whether for sodomy itself
or for other sexual acts. GSDC strongly supports the retention of the current language
contained in 10-30 in respect to the ‘age of consent’.
Further, the GSDC takes the position that the general raising of the ‘age of
consent’ or the ‘statutory rape’ age in the District from its present,
century-long-established 16, is a highly complex and controversial issue, with wide
ramifications, implications, and impacts — both legal and sociological. It is our
belief that many segments of the general community would like to be given the opportunity
to voice their concerns on this issue. Therefore, should the city council seriously
entertain such change in the age, that proposed change should be addressed on its own
merits through a separate, ‘free standing’ bill, to which full consideration can
be given and on which a hearing can be held. We oppose the altering of the age of consent
through hasty amendment to existing bills not open to community input.
2 -The GSDC firmly supports the inclusion of a phrase in bill 10-30 expressly providing
that one of its purposes is to reduce discrimination. GSDC and others testified at your
hearings on this legislation pointing out that 10-30 will, in fact, reduce discrimination
under the Human Rights Act. GSDC believes this change simply recognizes a fact and in the
process strengthens the legislation.
Once again, the GSDC applauds you for your expeditious and fair handling of this
important legislation.
Sincerely,
Charles
Nichols
Chair,
Sodomy Reform Committee
CC: Councilmember Charlene Drew Jarvis
Councilmember John Ray
Councilmember Harry Thomas
Councilmember Harold Brazil
