A Mississippi lawmaker has introduced a provocative bill, the "Contraception Begins at Erection Act," aimed at criminalizing ejaculation without the intent to fertilize, sparking debate over gender dynamics in reproductive legislation.
State Sen. Bradford Blackmon drafted the bill in response to a nationwide trend of legislation targeting women's reproductive rights, particularly in states like Mississippi, WLBT3 reported.
Blackmon aims to highlight the double standards in such laws by focusing on men's roles in reproduction, using satire to provoke discussion on the issue.
The proposed legislation would impose fines—starting at $1,000 for a first offense and escalating to $10,000 for repeat offenses—for "discharging genetic material" without the explicit intent to fertilize an embryo.
Blackmon acknowledged the bill's absurdity, but defended it as a tool to emphasize the shared responsibility in reproduction.
Critics have dismissed the proposal as theatrical, while supporters argued that it successfully draws attention to the imbalance in reproductive health policies.
While the bill has little chance of becoming law, it has ignited a national conversation about the disproportionate burden placed on women in reproductive legislation.
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