Debate Guide: There is no law that prohibits minors

Sometimes deployed supposedly as a "gotcha" argument:

You say that minors should be emancipated to have sex with adults. They already are, and can freely choose to do that without being criminalized.

Firstly, according to this argument, there would be no debate over minors being allowed to interact sexually with one another. Unfortunately, this is not the case, as established repeatedly in the law. Nor is it the case with their interactions with adults, despite the fact that there is no technical infraction of the law on their part, as they are deemed to be the victims of an assault. As well as having to stay silent to avoid these outcomes, a minor may be forced to feel guilty about the ongoing relationship, especially after detection. They will be told that what has "happened to them" was "very wrong", even if they did not originally feel that way. They may be punished with extensive legal proceedings, interrogation, and intrusive physical examinations. Even in a relationship that goes under the radar, they will be denied a partner who is as confident and happy as they should be, and their relationship will be secretive and far from ideal. Simply focussing on legality presents a false view of freedom; after all a gay teenager is "free" to discuss his or her sexuality with deeply religious parents.