Tennessee
Sex Laws 2026

The age of consent in Tennessee is 18 as of May 2026, the same as in 10 other states. Tennessee requires schools to teach sex education, one of 28 states that do, and the mandated approach is abstinence-only, with no medical-accuracy requirement and no LGBTQ+ inclusion requirement. Adult entertainment regulation is restrictive, and the state scores 20/100 on this page's sex-ed progressiveness scale.

Tennessee's age of consent is 18. There is a close-in-age exemption: sexual activity with a 13- through 17-year-old is a lesser offense if the defendant is less than four years older, under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-13-506.

Tennessee requires sex education in schools, and the Gateway Sexual Activity law creates strong incentives for teachers to stay within an abstinence-only framework. Under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-1305, teachers who provide instruction beyond abstinence could face professional consequences. This law is unusual nationally and has been cited by sex ed researchers as a significant barrier to comprehensive instruction. Anti-LGBTQ+ curriculum laws have been enacted in recent years.

Tennessee's adult entertainment environment is restrictive. Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville have adult entertainment industries regulated through local licensing, but the state's political environment has been moving toward greater restriction. Tennessee has passed legislation targeting drag performances in public spaces, raising constitutional questions about the law. Adult businesses face significant regulatory burden.

Age 18. Gateway Sexual Activity law (controversial) — teachers can be fired for anything beyond abstinence. Anti-LGBTQ+ curriculum laws.

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Also on Tennessee: the full Tennessee profile covers taxes, cost of living, crime and schools, and the county map lets you compare every county in the state. For related rules, read the Tennessee nudism guide and the Tennessee gambling laws guide.