Age Taboo: Gay Male Sexuality, Power and Consent

A fascinating look at the debates around and defenses of male intergenerational sex. I was struck honestly with how carefully most writers tackled the issues of power and consent. There's a vast set of opinions and angles, including taking up seriously the critiques of lesbian feminists who opposed NAMBLA--and I think I was most struck by the inclusion of interviews with and writings by actual youth who are involved themselves in intergenerational relationships, and the questions they raised about consent, and in particular youth liberation.

I think we've hit a historical point where we can be super dismissive of NAMBLA, but I found this book to be super enlightening about what the people involved felt was at stake, and I think gives us show more insight into the ways that the new battleground over youth (namely: trans youth and their access to healthcare) is in fact incredibly similar to this, and what lessons we should draw from it. Fascinating and weirdly relevant! show less