Going out with someone or being in a relationship can make you feel many different things - happiness, nervousness, excitement, love. Sometimes it can also be confusing, especially when it comes to intimacy and sex. Intimacy is when two people become physically, sexually and/or emotionally close.

What does consent mean in intimate relationships?

Consent is when one person agrees to or gives permission to another person to do something. It means agreeing to an action based on your knowledge of what that action involves, its likely consequences and having the option of saying no. When it comes to sex in your relationship consent is really important. It's important to remember that both of you have a responsibility to make sure that you both feel safe and comfortable every step along the way. Remember, your actions towards the person you're with can greatly affect the way they feel about you, themselves, the relationship and sex in general.

What consent means in Nevada (The Law)

In Nevada, the age of consent is 16. This means BOTH parties must be 16 or older to legally consent to having a sexual experience or relationship.

Why is it important to make sure that the person you're with has given consent?

It's important that you are sure that the person you're with is happy and comfortable because non-consensual sexual activity (anything from touching and kissing to penetration) is against the law. The punishments for sexual assault are severe. Not only is it a crime but also the emotional consequences of rape and sexual assault can last a lifetime.

What if no one says “No?”

• If someone says “Wait,” “Maybe” or “I’m not sure” – STOP!
• If you’re being told “Wait,” “Maybe” or “I’m not sure” – LISTEN!
• If the other person tries to push you away or suddenly seems different – STOP!
• If the other person is under the influence or passed out – STOP!
• If the other person isn’t sure… if you’re not sure – DON’T DO ANYTHING ELSE! STOP!
• Ask questions. Make sure you understand what the other person means!

Stopping

You always have the right to say 'no' and you always have the right to change your mind at any time regardless of your past experiences with other people or the person you are with. Below are some things you can say or do if you want to stop:

• No
• Say 'I want to stop"
• Say 'I need to go to the toilet'
• In a situation where the other person isn't listening to you and you feel unsafe, you could pretend you are going to vomit (it's amazing how quickly someone moves away from you if they think you are going to be sick)

What if the person you're with is too out of it to give consent?

Drugs and alcohol can affect people's ability to make decisions, including whether or not they want to be sexual with someone else. This means that if someone is really out of it they cannot give consent. Being with them in a sexual way when they don't know what's going on is RAPE.

If you see a friend who is out of it and is being intimate with someone then you should pull them aside and try your best to make sure that the person is safe and knows what they are doing. If it's the opposite situation and your friend is the one who is with the out of it person then you should try to pull them aside and stop them from getting themselves into trouble.