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18th February 2025
09:52am GMT
A new law has been put forward in Ohio that would criminalise men's ejaculation unless it is for the purpose of conception.
The bill, tabled by Democratic House Representative Anita Somani, aims to regulate male reproductive rights in the same manner as women's.
since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, each state has been allowed to set its own abortion laws independently.
Somani declared: "You don't get pregnant on your own. If you're going to penalise someone for an unwanted pregnancy, why not penalise the person who is also responsible for the pregnancy?"
The proposed legislation, dubbed the Conception Begins at Erection Act, would make it illegal for any man in the state to "discharge semen without the intent to fertilise."
There are some exceptions, for example, if protection or contraceptives are used during sexual activity, masturbation, sperm donation, or sexual relations among LGBTQ+ community members that do not "produce ova."
Essentially, the law targets unprotected sex that does not aim for procreation. Offenders could be hit with substantial fines, with penalties reaching up to £8000 ($10,000) per violation, according to the Mirror US.
The bill serves as a "statement" aimed at anti-abortion proponents within Ohio's legislature.
Voters in the State have backed abortion rights, with a 2023 ballot measure sailing through by a 57 per cent to 43 per cent margin. This result guarantees that residents will retain control over their reproductive choices, including decisions on abortion, contraception, fertility treatments, and post-miscarriage care.
However, GOP activist Austin Beigel has signalled that fresh legislative efforts are in the pipeline to ban abortion completely.
He said: "It just says human life begins at conception. Therefore, all the protections that are offered to other people under the state law are also offered to the pre-born."
Named the Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act, the potential legislation could go unopposed now that states have reclaimed authority over their abortion statutes.
