I petition the Tennessee General Assembly to reconsider Tennessee Code Annotated 39-15-302 and remove criminal penalties for consensual sexual relationships between competent adults who are close relatives.

Tennessee currently classifies incest as a Class C felony, including sexual penetration between consenting adult siblings and certain other adult relatives.

I believe Tennessee's criminal law should distinguish between consensual relationships between independent adults and situations involving minors, coercion, abuse, exploitation, or abuse of authority.

This proposal would not legalize sexual activity involving minors or non-consensual conduct. Existing laws protecting minors and prohibiting sexual assault, coercion, exploitation, and abuse would remain fully enforceable.

I ask legislators to consider whether a private relationship between two competent adults should be a criminal offense solely because the individuals are biologically related.

I support:
Decriminalizing consensual sexual relationships between competent adults.
Maintaining strict criminal penalties for incest involving minors.
Maintaining laws against sexual assault, coercion, abuse, and exploitation.
Maintaining protections against relationships involving a position of legal authority or dependency.
Evaluating genetic and family-related concerns through evidence-based public policy rather than criminalization alone.
Respecting adult autonomy and requiring a demonstrable public harm before imposing criminal penalties on private adult relationships.

I respectfully ask the Tennessee General Assembly to review 39-15-302 and consider legislation that would decriminalize consensual relationships between independent adults while preserving all protections against abuse, coercion, and exploitation.