Do dependent territories have higher ages for same-sex sex?

In certain dependent territories and North American jurisdictions, the legal age of consent for same-sex sexual relations is higher than that for opposite-sex relations. Specifically, four North American territories maintain this disparity, while other regions like South America also show variations such as illegal male same-sex conduct in Guyana. Laws governing sexual consent vary widely by jurisdiction across different regions.

What we know

• In four territories in North America—Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and the Turks and Caicos Islands—there is a higher age of consent for same-sex sexual relations than for opposite-sex ones. [3]
• In South America, the only country where male same-sex sexual conduct is illegal is Guyana. [1]
• In South America, the only countries with a higher age of consent for same-sex sexual relations than opposite-sex ones are Paraguay and Suriname. [1]

Where to go next

• the bigger pictureWhat are the general ages of consent across North America?
• compared withHow do ages of consent compare in South America?
• how we knowWhat are the legal ages of consent across European jurisdictions?
• whereHow does the age of consent vary across different parts of Asia?
• how it workedWhat exceptions exist for teenagers close in age?
• an unexpected connectionWhy do some regions maintain unequal ages of consent for same-sex relations?Although many sovereign nations have equalized their laws, specific dependent territories and South American countries still retain disparities where same-sex relations require an older age or face prohibitions.

Sources

• [1]Age of consent in South America · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [2]Age of consent in Europe · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Age of consent in North America · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Age of consent in Asia · CC BY-SA 4.0