The FreeC2U program is available to Erie County residents 13 years of age or older. This is based on the below information regarding sexual violence. Why? Because residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are considered consenting partners based on the details below. Our goal is to make safe sex supplies available to individuals that are having safe, sane, legal sex. Click here to watch a video about how old you need to be to buy condoms for information age restrictions.
The following is sourced to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. You can visit their website at this URL: Teens | Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR)
Sexual violence can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, geography, ability, appearance, sexual orientation, and gender identity and has a tremendous impact on everyone–the survivor, their families, significant others, and their community.
Statutory sexual assault law in Pennsylvania is defined as sexual intercourse with someone under the age of 16 when the other person is four or more years older. Examples: A 13-year-old has sex with a 17-year-old or a 15-year-old has sex with a 19-year-old.
This law recognizes that teens may be able to consent with peers of the same age, but that an age difference of four or more years creates a power imbalance which essentially makes true consent impossible. A person under the age of 13 cannot give consent to anyone.
Age and experience create a power imbalance that makes it impossible for the younger person to freely give consent.
In Pennsylvania:
- Children less than 13 years old cannot grant consent to sexual activity.
- Teens between the ages of 13 and 15 cannot consent to sexual activity with anyone who is four or more years older than them.
- People ages 16 and older can legally consent to sexual activity with anyone they choose, as long as the other person does not have authority over them as defined in Pennsylvania’s institutional sexual assault statute.
Society sends lots of messages about sex and sexuality. Many of these messages are violent or harmful. Sometimes alcohol is even shown as a way to ease worries around sex. Consent can’t happen when alcohol is involved; using alcohol to make someone have sex with you is sexual assault.
As caring adults in the lives of young people, you can counter these negative messages they receive about sex and sexuality from society. You can promote healthy sexuality by talking to the young people in your life and modeling healthy and respectful relationships. We must all work to create a space where young people feel safe and respected.
For more information on the age of consent, visit: Age of Consent | Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR)