Age of Consent
Sex Education Required by State
Sex Education Type
Medically Accurate Content Required
LGBTQ+ Inclusive
Consent Education Taught
Adult Entertainment
Colorado's age of consent is 17. The state has a close-in-age exemption: sexual activity between a minor who is at least 15 and a partner no more than 10 years older is treated as a misdemeanor rather than a felony, and activity between peers close in age carries reduced penalties. Colorado Revised Statutes Section 18-3-402 governs sexual assault on a child.
Colorado does not have a statewide sex education mandate, but state guidelines for districts that offer it are comprehensive. The guidelines call for medically accurate instruction, inclusion of LGBTQ+ relationships and identities, and affirmative consent education. In practice, coverage varies significantly by district. Urban districts tend to follow the comprehensive framework more closely; rural districts vary.
Colorado's adult entertainment environment is among the more permissive in the West. Denver has a well-established strip club industry. The state does not impose unusual burdens on adult businesses beyond standard licensing and zoning. Marijuana legalization in 2012 has contributed to a broader personal-freedom-forward policy culture, and there has been no significant political movement to restrict the adult entertainment industry.
No statewide mandate but guidelines require comprehensive, inclusive ed when offered. Strong consent education framework.
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In the News
- State Laws on Gender-Affirming Care - FindLawMay 25
- A 16-year-old girl can legally marry a 30-year-old man, and it's not considered rape - denverpost.comMar 15
- Foster Care’s Missing Policies For Sexual and Reproductive Health - The ImprintMay 9
- Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado List of Reproductive Rights, Health and Education Candidates - Planned Parenthood Action FundOct 17
- Rethinking Sex Ed for the #MeToo Moment: A ‘Hugely Significant’ Study Shows That Strengthening Education on Relationships & Consent Can Change the Culture - The 74Apr 1
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Sources: NCSL, Guttmacher Institute, SIECUS State Profiles, Wikipedia "Ages of consent in the United States". Laws change — verify current status with official sources.