The House of Commons has recently voted on the age of consent for gay men. Before the vote the age of 21, while for straights it is 16. Lesbians don't even get a mention - apparently as straights? Queen Victoria didn't believe they existed! But what's the big deal?
cent behaviour. the age of 21. to gay men choosing to If you are forced into any have sex at the same age sexual act with anyone, whatever age you are, In fact, what is the point that's illegal, and the perof the age of consent at all? son who forced you has It was only in 1967 that committed the crime. gay sex was made legal. But the Age of Consent Even now, lesbians or gay laws do not prevent people men kissing in the street being hurt. can be arrested for inde- simply to stop young people choosing to have sex when Young men are being sent they want, and with whom to prison or put in care just they want. for choosing to have sex They are not about prowith another man before tecting young people from being preyed upon by older Young lesbians are being people, they are about takput into care, not for doing ing away our rights to anything wrong, or because choose what we do with our their parents can't provide bodies. for them, but simply be- The laws protecting us cause they are lesbians. from rape and sexual asAge of consent laws are sault certainly leave a lot to used against straight young be desired. people too. Young women consent laws are no substiwho want to have sex when tute for the real changes to they're under 16 risk being increase young people's put into care and their boy- rights or safety.
Young people need info about safer sex and contraception They are there The Age of Consent laws stop young people getting But the age of the information they need about contraception and safer sex - they don't stop young people from having COY The result is unplanned teenage pregnancies, and higher incidences of sexually transmitted diseases.
All in the name of protecting us.
One time managor of Fun-da-mental, the Face's 'DJ of the Month' in August '93, first ever Asian DJ on Radio 1 FM (specialising in Bhangra, ragga and houso), Bhangra musician, active anti-racist and fighter for women's rights, Raniit Kaur aka DJ Sista is a very busy woman. Liberation! managed to catch up with her in her home town of Huddersfield to discuss music and polities... LI: Bhangra is getting onto the media now. Can you give us a brief history of the scene?
Tor small about ted off small about ten years ago. Originally traditional songs were played in temples, then later at weddings. young musicians started to add mod ern western instruments to the traditional Punjabi ones, and a movement was nioneered bv bands stance, contain muslims within their ranks. LI: Recently there's been a lot of Bhangra-Ragga cross over. Does that represent a cultural mix at the grass roots between black and Asian youth?
Nothing giamk by making gimmick by some record companies who thought they could cash in on the popularity of ragga. Many blacks were offended by it. Some of the music was really good, and people danced to it, but generally it was a commercial move and was potentially damaging to black-Asian relations. LI: Do you see bhangra as radical or positive? In the past most Bhangra I dealt with traditional subjects and having good time, but more re cently Asian youth have started to sing about the problems they face in nineties Britain. However, most record companies are worried that political stuff will be too controversial and won't sell. Female Bhangra musicians in particular have had to push themselves and as a re sult they are having a radicalizing effect on the scene. LI: As an anti-racist activist do you have any advice or comments for the move ment?
here needs to be more unity. both within the Ant-racist bands united thousands of youth at August's ARAfest serious ass. The move ment needs to be open to all, therefore it needs to be anti-sexist and anti-homophobic etc. Capitalism has to be fought by fighting concretely against all oppressions, rather than by abstracting the strug gle. The most important thing is to have groups of people who come together because they want to fight racism and are prepared to act locally to tackle it. Don't bother sending me any applications forms, I'll just send them back! L!: Do you encounter sexism in the scene? yes, lots of it. People didn't expect me to be explain the origins of your name?
t's a double edged thing. When people hear of the KKK they think of the Ku Klux Klan. We're taking the piss out of them because K also repre sents the five symbols of the Sikh religion, and originally there were five of us in the band. We have now expanded to fifteen, and we're a collective all in volved in different aspects of creativity. We rotate the roles of the members so that each individual can develop their skills. There If wars, is a strong input from the cism pass without opposifemales in the band and a tion. lot of our songs deal with LI: Any tips for what to look women's oppression. The out for in 1994? very act of out coming to- The New Konscious Kar gether has tackled sexism and broken down stereo liphz, Hustlers HC, types. Some of the women Fun-da-mental, and of in the band had to tackle course the KK Kings. the opposition of their (John Peel, who played families to being involved 'Dum Maro Dum' from in a band. We are stating their 'Justified and Asian' loud that Asian women EP on New Year's Day, cermake a big contribution to tainly thinks it will be a hit the world. Many of them for '94.) are working or studying LI: Any advice for Libera and a strong and inde tion! readers for 1994? pendent. We don't all have Be strong and stick to arranged marriages at 16! We don't let sexism or ra your principles!