# United States Age of Consent **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 11, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-age-of-consent/376102 "2006-10-11T20:53:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-age-of-consent/376102/21 "2006-10-13T18:47:38Z")
[QUOTE=tashabot] …However, the ages of consent for homosexual sex are 18 through state oversight, I believe, and the age of consent for marriage is weird. ~Tasha [/QUOTE] In many (most?) states the marriageable age _lower_ than the age of consent for sex. In NYS it’s 16 with parental consent and 14 ( **13** for girls) with judicial consent (for sex it’s 17). Some state’s don’t even have a minimum (Arizona and California) :eek: . Which begs the question can someone be prosecuted for statutory rape with their underage spouse? Especially if they married in the same state they’re having sex in. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-age-of-consent/376102/22 "2006-10-13T20:18:54Z")
[QUOTE=tashabot] Here in Nevada the age of consent is 16, with a three-year-window, like in Texas. That means, a sixteen year old can have sex with someone up to 19 years old, and 17 year old can have sex with someone up to 20, and after 18 it’s a free for all. However, the ages of consent for homosexual sex are 18 through state oversight, I believe, and the age of consent for marriage is weird. ~Tasha [/QUOTE] I don’t think that is correct. Once someone reaches the age of consent for straight sex in his/her state, he/she can consent to sex with anyone of the opposite sex that is older. I think the three year window means that a sixteen year old can have sex with a member of the opposite sex who is thirteen, but not twelve. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-age-of-consent/376102/23 "2006-10-13T21:08:22Z")
Sounds right, the way I’ve always read it, if the “general” AoC is 16 and there are no special circumstances (such as “authority figure”), then someone that age may have sex with _ANYONE_ above that age. The example **Quantum Particle** presents in post #13 would mean\* the general legal AoC is 18, with a R&J window between 16 and 18\*. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-age-of-consent/376102/24 "2006-10-13T21:27:30Z")
[QUOTE=x-ray vision] I don’t think that is correct. Once someone reaches the age of consent for straight sex in his/her state, he/she can consent to sex with anyone of the opposite sex that is older. I think the three year window means that a sixteen year old can have sex with a member of the opposite sex who is thirteen, but not twelve. [/QUOTE] That is untrue in [Kansas](http://www.actwin.com/eatonohio/gay/consent.htm). > [@](#): > > Kansas law prohibits various sexual scenarios, and has a special category > for sex with a person between 14 and 16. **Adults breaching this criminal > sodomy section face harsh penalties, but Kansas lawmakers carved out some > breathing space for youthful miscreants, _provided they are 18 or under, and > within four years of age of their consensual partner_.** Called the “Romeo and > Juliet” law, the provision limits the penalty for teen sex to 15 months in > jail, and does not require the perpetrator to register as a sex offender. > But the “Romeo and Juliet” law only applies to heterosexual teen-agers. Also > it is a felony for school employees to have consensual sexual contact with > students ages 16 or 17, even if it is only french-kissing. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-age-of-consent/376102/25 "2006-10-13T21:29:47Z")
I believe though, that the part about only heterosexual teenagers gettting the break has been stricken from the books now though. I think it was successfully fought, and found Unconstitutional. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-age-of-consent/376102/26 "2006-10-13T21:58:58Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] …In many (most?) states the marriageable age _lower_ than the age of consent for sex. …Some state’s don’t even have a minimum (Arizona and California) :eek: . … [/QUOTE] Can this possibly be true? Because if it is you can bet some pedophiles in a state without a minimum marriage age will have slipped through marriage certificates for 6 year olds. We’ll be hearing abouy it soon on CNN if the cops ever come after one of the adults. “But we’re MARRIED!” Yup, a couple aged 37 and 6. Maybe it’s already happened and I’ve missed it? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-age-of-consent/376102/27 "2006-10-13T23:03:13Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] Can this possibly be true? Because if it is you can bet some pedophiles in a state without a minimum marriage age will have slipped through marriage certificates for 6 year olds. We’ll be hearing abouy it soon on CNN if the cops ever come after one of the adults. “But we’re MARRIED!” Yup, a couple aged 37 and 6. Maybe it’s already happened and I’ve missed it? [/QUOTE] AFAIK both CA and AZ require a Family court judge to approve an underage marriage. Parents alone can’t consent. Also if a 37 yr old did manage to legally marry a 6 yr old social services would almost certainly be able to get it annuled. ---
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-age-of-consent/376102/28 "2006-10-13T23:13:03Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] That is correct. If the OP is refering directly to the episode of _House_, it is set in New Jersey. AoC is 16 except, as stated, if the elder party is in a position of authority or a family member. Being someones doctor would count as being in a position of authority. [/QUOTE] House was not her doctor though. He was her father’s doctor. I don’t think he had any type of authority over her in any way. Plus she was the one that said he only had to wait until she turned 18 which was soon, and I don’t think your average 17 year-old girl knows about this law. I don’t think the authority thing has anything to do with this case. ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2006, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-age-of-consent/376102/29 "2006-10-14T14:17:50Z")
[QUOTE=Thudlow Boink] I’m pretty sure 18 is the age limit for appearing in any sort of pornography. You’re not thinking of that, are you? [/QUOTE] Funny thing, in Alabama the Age of Consent is 16. Yet, to appear in any sort of pornography you are required to be 19. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-age-of-consent/376102.md?page=1)