In a move that has seen significant attention, Mississipp Bradford Blackmon introduced a bill titled the 'Contraception Begins at Erection Act' with fines up to $10,000 USD for the illegal discharge of sperm.
According to Blackmon, the intent of the legislation 'Senate Bill 2319' is to bring the fundamental role of men into the contraception and body rights conversation in response to the excessive legislative activity targeted at women in the US around their bodies.
The law would make it unlawful for men to discharge genetic material (sperm) without the intent to fertilise an embryo, effectively criminalising certain male reproductive behaviours such as masturbation unless it is for procreation purposes.
The bill proposes fines of $1,000 for a first offence, $5,000 for a second offence, and $10,000 for subsequent violations. It includes exceptions for sperm donations and the use of contraceptives intended to prevent fertilisation.
The introduction of this bill comes amidst a broader backdrop of reproductive rights debates in the United States, particularly following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
While the bill is unlikely to pass due, it has sparked significant public debate and discussion about gender roles in reproductive health legislation. Blackmon, a Democratic Senator, has faced backlash, including death threats, and has clarified that the bill is intended as a form of satire to provoke conversation. It has certainly done that.
