These are subject to change
laws and are for sexual consent in the United States only. If you see two
ages in one cell, that is because the age of consent is different
for females and for males. Yes, that makes no sense, but these laws apply to you. Often these laws are very old. If you are younger than age 18, please check the laws in the state in which you reside.
Although
many young people are mature enough to know how to deal with
the consequences of sex, some teens are not grown up enough
to know that their actions have consequences. The same comment applies to adults as well.
Age of consent
laws were implemented to stop young people from being exploited by
adults.That
is why you need to register to vote at age 18 and make your
opinions heard!
USA by State:
Female/Male
Male/Male
Female/Female
Alabama
16
Law
invalidated
Law invalidated
Alaska
16
16
16
Arizona
18
Law
repealed
law
repealed
Arkansas
16
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
California
18
18
18
Colorado
17
17
17
Connecticut
16
16
16
District
of C.
16
Law
repealed
Law
repealed
Delaware
16
(f)18 (m)
Law
repealed
Law
repealed
Florida
18
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Georgia
16
16
16
Hawaii
16
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Idaho
16
(f) 18 (m)
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Illinois
17
17
17
Indiana
16
16
16
Iowa
16(f)
16(m)
Law
repealed
Law
repealed
Kansas
16
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Kentucky
16
Law
repealed
Law
repealed
Louisiana
17
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Maine
16
16
16
Maryland
16
no
current law
no
current law
Massachusetts
16
(f) 18 (m)
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Michigan
16
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Minnesota
16
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Mississippi
16
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Missouri
17
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Montana
16
(f) 18 (m)
18
18
Nebraska
17
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Nevada
16
18
18
New
Hampshire
16
18
18
New
Jersey
16
16
16
New
Mexico
17
16
16
New
York
17
17
17
North
Carolina
16
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
North
Dakota
18
18
18
Ohio
16
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Oklahoma
16
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Oregon
18
18
18
Pennsylvania
16
16
16
Rhode
Island
16
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
South
Carolina
14
(f) 16 (m)
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
South
Dakota
16
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Tennessee
18
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Texas
17
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Utah
16
- f 18 (m)
Law
invalidated
Law
invalidated
Vermont
16
Law
repealed
Law
repealed
Virginia
18
Law
repealed
Law
repealed
Washington
16
16
16
West
Virginia
16
18
18
Wisconsin
18
18
18
Wyoming
16
(f) 18 (m)
Law
repealed
Law
repealed
US Military
16
don't
ask, don't tell
don't
ask, don't tell
USA
Citizen Outside the USA
18
no
current law
no
current law
What Does The Age of Consent Mean? The age of consent is the age when the law says you can agree to have sex. In most countries it means until you reach this age you can not legally have sex with anyone, regardless of their age old. In the United States and Canada this is the same situation. Sometimes the law is different if you are female or male.
"Our
Parents Say It's Okay and We Do it in Their House."
This may sound odd to some, but this is the case in some homes.
However, this does not make any difference in the eyes of
the law! Your parents don't make the laws of your state or
province. The age of consent laws always apply, no judge will
care if you're in love, or if you've been together for years,
or you've had sex before.
Why
Do We Have These Laws?
Although many young people are mature enough to know how to
deal with the consequences of sex, some teens are not grown
up enough to know that their actions have consequences. Age
of consent laws are there to stop young people from being
exploited by adults.
Is
There an Age of Consent For Gay Men and Lesbians?
Yes.
Some places have different ages of consent limits for homosexuals,
and in other countries this sort of relationship is against
the law. To find out about your area in the United States,
check the consent chart.
What
is Statutory Rape?
It’s
a crime committed when an adult has sexual intercourse with
a minor. Who is a minor? Anyone under the age of 18, (or 16;
check this list and the current laws in your state.)
What can
happen if an adult has sex with a minor? Even if he is your
boyfriend? If reported, that person may be arrested, tried
in a court of law, and sent to jail. What happens if the sex
is consensual and one is a minor? Even if they both agree
to have sex, it is still statutory rape.
Q. What can happen if an adult has sex with a minor? Even if
he is your boyfriend and even if your parents allow it?
A. If reported, that person
can be arrested, tried in a court of law, and sent to prison.
Q. What happens if the
sex is consensual and one is a minor?
A. Even if they both agree to have sex, it is still statutory
rape.
Q. What can
happen if an adult has sex with a minor? Even if he is your
boyfriend and even if your parents allow it?
A. If reported, that person
may be arrested, tried in a court of law, and sent to prison.
Q.
What happens if the sex is consensual and one is a minor?
A. Even if they both agree to have sex, it is still statutory
rape. Don’t go to jail for not waiting to have sex. It’s
not worth it. You
do not want to go to prison I know its hard to wait, but wait. This is not something you want to have to explain one day while applying for a job.
