Later, as a graduate student working a rape crisis hotline, Rebecca — who was given a pseudonym in the journal article — heard similar stories from women whose partners had also engaged in the act of “stealthing,” or taking off condoms during sex without their partners’ knowledge or consent. The victims struggled to describe their experiences, but many started with a common refrain.
“I’m not sure this is rape, but …”
New legislation in California would make stealthing illegal. State lawmakers on Tuesday sent a bill to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) that would add such behavior to the state’s civil definition of sexual battery. If Newsom signs the bill, introduced by Democratic Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, the new law would allow victims to sue perpetrators for damages but would not make it a crime that could result in jail time.
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