Texas Prohibited Consensual Sexual Activity Laws
Laws prohibiting certain types of consensual sexual activity typically originate at the state level. Only two states, including Texas, have laws that specifically prohibit homosexual acts. But even though the Texas ban on same sex sodomy remains on the books, the U.S. Supreme Court found it unconstitutional in 2003 (and therefore unenforceable). Laws regulating consensual sexual activity also refer to offenses such as public lewdness, indecent exposure, and intentional HIV exposure.
The following table lists the main provisions of Texas prohibited consensual sexual activity laws, while additional background information follows. See FindLaw's Sex Crimes section for more information.
|Sodomy Laws Applicable to||Same sex (law found unconstitutional)
|Penalty for Sodomy||Pen. 21.06 Homosexual conduct: Class C misdemeanor; Note: found unconstitutional by Lawrence v. Texas (2003)|
|HIV Exposure and Compelled Testing for Offenders||Crim. Proc. §21.31 Upon indictment for felony sex offense or upon request of victim of alleged sex offense, court may order HIV testing of offender|
|Other Crimes Relating to Consensual Sex Acts||Pen. 21.07 Public lewdness: Class A misdemeanor
Pen. 21.08 Indecent exposure: Class B misdemeanor
Pen. 42.01 Disorderly conduct: Class C misdemeanor
History of Prohibited Consensual Sexual Activity
One of the most famous cases to come out of Texas is Lawrence v. Texas. In that case, two men were convicted for having sex in a private home, under the Texas anti-sodomy law. The case went to the Supreme Court of the United States, where it was struck down. Because the decision made by the Supreme Court, all anti-sodomy laws in the United States are considered unconstitutional and unenforceable. However, many are still on the books.
Texas Sodomy Laws
Texas has not repealed the law that was struck down by the Lawrence v. Texas case. That law prohibits consensual sexual activity between individuals of the same sex. It is, however, unenforceable.
HIV Exposure and Compelled Testing
Victims of alleged sexual offenses have the right to compel their alleged assailant to be tested for HIV/AIDS.
Texas prohibits public lewdness, which is punishable as a class A misdemeanor. The law defines public lewdness as engaging in sexual intercourse, oral or anal intercourse, sexual contact, or sexual contact with an animal, in public.
Texas law also prohibits indecent exposure. This is a class B misdemeanor. The law defines indecent exposure as exposing his anus or genitals to another person with the intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire in any person, in a setting that may be offensive to someone. This may be considered "consensual" behavior because the actor consents to the behavior, even though the offended person does not.
Statutory rape generally describes the situation in which a consenting adult and a consenting minor engage in sexual relations. Although the contact is consensual, Texas law prohibits sexual contact between someone younger than 17 years of age, and someone who is more than three years older than the minor.
If you would like to know more about types of consensual sexual activity that are prohibited in Texas, you may want to speak with private criminal defense attorney. As well, some issues may be better addressed by a Texas attorney who has experience with civil rights law.