The California General Assembly has approved LGBT-backed legislation that would reduce the penalty for adults having anal and oral intercourse with minors.

Under the proposed law, an adult convicted of having anal or oral intercourse with a minor would receive a reduced penalty provided the minor was a willing participant, and there is not more than 10 years difference in age between the participants. The bill awaits action by California's Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom.

As reported by Breitbart, "The legislation 'would exempt from mandatory registration' as a sex offender 'a person convicted of certain offenses involving minors if the person is not more than 10 years older than the minor and if that offense is the only one requiring the person to register.'” The law gives discretion to a judge to determine whether the legal adults must register as a sex offender.

Democrat State Sen. Scott Wiener said his bill would end “blatant discrimination against young LGBT people engaged in consensual activity.” He says existing laws that punish adults who have sex with kids amount to "horrific homophobia."

“It’s irrational, and it ruins people’s lives," he said.

The California proposal is simply one more attempt by extremists to mainstream behavior that most Americans find to be abhorrent. Advocating for adults having sex with kids is wrong and should be soundly rejected.

Though this proposal does not legalize pedophilia, it sure lessens the punishment for it and softens the stigma associated with it. It seeks to normalize behavior that most find unacceptable.

This legislation is wrong in many ways and should be rejected by Governor Newsom and all Americans who believe that pedophilia is deplorable.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

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