# Consensual Sex- I hear it's illegal

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consensual-sex-i-hear-its-illegal/33799>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [September 19, 2000, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consensual-sex-i-hear-its-illegal/33799 "2000-09-19T23:35:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2000, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consensual-sex-i-hear-its-illegal/33799/61 "2000-09-25T11:10:47Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by headshok \*  
> \*\*My question is, does anybody know what the law is in Virginia regarding “fornication”? And what exactly constitutes fornication? Is it just “the deed”? What about third base? Second base? Holding hands? What if you are living together but not having sex (unlikely, I know, but still…)? Am I going to have to kick my girlfriend out of my apartment and start paying full rent? \*\*

Of course. Virginia Code § 18.2-344 clearly defines fornication as follows:

> [@](#):
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> Any person, not being married, who voluntarily shall have sexual intercourse with any other person, shall be guilty of fornication, punishable as a Class 4 misdemeanor.

I thought I quoted this in an earlier port in this thread, but perhaps I only paraphrased it. In any event, fornication is just “the deed,” yes.

- Rick

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**Author:** ![headshok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@headshok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/headshok)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2000, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consensual-sex-i-hear-its-illegal/33799/62 "2000-09-25T11:45:45Z")

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**bricker** said:

> [@](#):
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> I thought I quoted this in an earlier post in this thread, but perhaps I only paraphrased it. In any event, fornication is just “the deed,” yes.

You’re right. I had skimmed your earlier post and only read your quotes; the answer to my question was there all along. My apologies, and thanks for the info.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2000, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consensual-sex-i-hear-its-illegal/33799/63 "2000-09-25T12:02:51Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by egkelly \*  
> [B What I really want to know is: when our Predator-In-Chief …I mean president, leaves Washington and becomes a private citizen…will he be required to register (as a sex offender) with the local police department? \*\*

Why would he? Since when did consensual relations between two adults become a crime (well, actually across the river they might be, but…)?

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