What does Mary Kay Letourneau's life teach us?

Over twenty years ago, the country was shocked by the discovery of a sexual liaison between a twelve-year old boy and a thirty-six-year old woman. Though their story puts the lie to many unexamined beliefs, those unsupported views remain stubbornly rigid. Twelve-year olds cannot give consent even when they very much appear to do so. This is the unchallenged assumption propped up by mumbo jumbo passing as science. The argument is made almost exclusively when it comes to sex. Surprisingly, it is assumed at the same time that twelve-year olds and younger can give consent when it comes to sexual acts with each other. In the popular mind, there seems to be no contradiction. What is not questioned is that a large enough age difference rather than giving the older partner more wisdom and compassion will confer on him or her a predatory power difference. This ignores that youngsters of younger but equal ages can and often do bully their emotionally or physically weaker peers. [...]

At 21, Vili Fualaau, the boy in question and Mary Kay, after years in prison, finally marry. And when Mary Kay recently died of cancer, he was at her side. We know of this intergenerational love because it was so highly publicized and documented. We are mostly unaware of the many more that are hidden or destroyed by the heavy hand of the state. Mary Kay Letourneau, had she had been a man in a same sex relationship with a twelve-year old boy, would have been given, from what we know from precedents, the equivalent of multi life sentences. Most men who love boys are no less compassionate than Mary Kay Letourneau who was drawn to her lover’s kindness and artistic spirit.

source: Article 'What Does Mary Kay Letourneau's Life Teach Us?' by Peter Herman; www.nambla.org/mary_kay_letourneau.html; nambla.org; 11 July 2020