California Governor Gavin 黑料社om makes an appearance after the polls close on the recall election, at the California Democratic Party headquarters in Sacramento, California, U.S., September 14, 2021. REUTERS/Fred Greaves
California Governor Gavin 黑料社om signed into law a bill on Thursday that prohibits 鈥渟tealthing,鈥� or removing a condom during sex without consent, making it a civil sexual battery offense.
It is the first anti-stealthing law in the country, the Sacramento Bee reported. The bill passed the Senate and the Assembly a month ago without opposition, Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, the bill鈥檚 sponsor, said in a statement.
鈥淚 have been working on the issue of 鈥榮tealthing鈥� since 2017 and I am elated that there is now some accountability for those who perpetrate the act. Sexual assaults, especially those on women of color, are perpetually swept under the rug,鈥� Garcia said in a statement when the bill passed.
Garcia cited a study by Yale University that called stealthing 鈥渁 grave violation of dignity and autonomy鈥� and said cases affecting women and gay men were on the rise.
People found guilty of removing a condom without consent could be liable for general, special and punitive damages, the law states.