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Florida Teen Facing Criminal Charges For Relationship With Female Student

Kaitlyn Hunt, a senior at a Florida high school, has been expelled and is facing criminal charges as a result of a consensual, same-sex relationship with another student. Her parents have started an internet campaign to rally the public in her defense.

If convicted, Hunt could face up to 15 years in prison and be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of her life.

Kaitlyn’s family took her story public on May 17 on a "Free Kate" Facebook page. Her mother wrote this personal message:

Anyone who knows me, even a little, knows what kind of person I am. Anyone who knows my daughter Kate, knows how wonderful she is. Kate is an 18 year old senior about to graduate from SRHS. She has an exemplary record at school and home. She has always been a wonderful student, respected and well liked. She has cheered on the varsity cheer team all throughout high school, shes sung in chorus and was voted most school spirited. She has never been in trouble, ever, she truly is the model student and child. At the beginning of this school year, she started dating a fellow student, who happened to be another female. This girl also played varsity sports, was in the IB program, so she was in classes with upperclassman. There was an age difference between my daughter and the other girl, of 3 years, my daughter was older, however you would have thought it was the opposite by just looking at the girls. My daughter is tiny, looks very young, and the other girl looks much older and is much taller, either way there was a 3 year age gap. They were both students in the same high school, it was a mutual consenting relationship on both parts. This was unusual for Kate, she has always dated boys, but being the kind of mother I am, I didn't want to make it a big deal. I talked to her about it, and figured it was just a social thing, times have changed and a lot of kids are experimenting, so I didn't make much of it.

Their family's "Free Kate" Facebook page has more than 19,000 members.

The Change.org petition started for Kate's case has gained over 50,000 signatures:

The Hunt family have been distributing green bracelets that read "Free Kate, Stop The Hate":

The story has been getting attention on Twitter as well:

Monday we will be making lots of calls. Here's who you can contact on behalf of Kaitlyn Hunt: http://t.co/eoBuF5ZKJu #OpJustice4Kaitlyn

AnonymousUpdates

@UpdatesAnon

Monday we will be making lots of calls. Here's who you can contact on behalf of Kaitlyn Hunt: http://t.co/eoBuF5ZKJu #OpJustice4Kaitlyn

In response to those claiming the Hunt family is expecting special treatment because Kaitlyn is in a same-sex relationship, the Facebook page stated:

The law needs to change, not only to protect Kate, but to protect the millions of teenagers, boys and girls, straight and gay, whose lives are regularly ruined because parents disapprove of their children's sexual choices. We want justice for all 18-year-old high school seniors who have undergone criminal prosecution for exercising poor judgement in their dating life. Such students are not predators. They're just kids.

Update - May 23, 1:07p.m.: 'Anonymous' vows to protest case: