Gov. Brian Sandoval on Thursday signed Senate Bill 388, updating Nevada’s “infamous crimes against nature” law and ending discrimination against consenting same-gender partners.

CARSON CITY — Gov. Brian Sandoval on Thursday signed Senate Bill 388, updating Nevada’s “infamous crimes against nature” law and ending discrimination against consenting same-gender partners.

In 1993 the Nevada legislature repealed Nevada’s “infamous crimes against nature” law and by doing so, inadvertently made it illegal for same-gender partners over the age of consent but under the age of 18 to engage in consensual sex acts.

“Nevada’s outdated ‘infamous crimes against nature’ statute discriminates against same-gender partners and violates their rights to equal protection under the law,” said Laura Martin, communications director for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. “We are thankful that the Legislature and Governor Sandoval recognized this injustice and fixed it.”

Tod Story, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, said: “Nevada has finally equalized its age of consent and ended its decades-old discrimination of same-gender relationships.”

Contact Capital Bureau reporter Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900.