California law prohibits secretly removing condom during sex

Reuters

Published Oct 07, 2021 11:06PM ET

(Reuters) - California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill on Thursday that prohibits "stealthing," 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's sponsor, said in a statement.

"I have been working on the issue of 'stealthing' 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," Garcia said in a statement when the bill passed.