You probably already know that you must obtain consent before having sex with someone. But what, exactly, does consent constitute?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If bill A6540 passes in New York, consent could only be obtained \u201cwithout the use of malice such as forcible compulsion, duress, coercion, deception, fraud, concealment or artifice.\u201d With the rise of women\u2019s empowerment movements like #MeToo, some men are worried that their normal sex lives will be impacted. But, truthfully, unless you\u2019re doing some pretty sketchy stuff, that\u2019s probably not the case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even with the new bill, you\u2019re unlikely to get into trouble for a white lie. Here are a few examples of using concealment or deception for sex that might get someone into legal trouble. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lying About Being On Birth Control<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If a woman tells a man that she\u2019s on birth control but really isn\u2019t, that could be considered sexual misconduct. The reason is that she\u2019s taking away her partner\u2019s right to choose whether or not he is okay with the possibility of having a baby with her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pretending You\u2019re Single<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If a married man or woman lies to someone they\u2019re dating, pretending that they\u2019re single and interested in a commitment before sex, it would be sexual misconduct. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Not Disclosing an STD<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While this is already illegal in some jurisdictions, a person with an STD like herpes or HIV who has sex with someone without telling them could be charged with sexual misconduct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of us would be upset if someone lied to us about birth control or an STD. This law might encourage open and honest conversations before sex, helping people avoid future resentment, health conditions, or unwanted pregnancy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another perk is having a definition for consent. As it stands, the law doesn\u2019t define consent, making it pretty difficult for people to know exactly what is and isn\u2019t legal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But some people worry about expanding laws surrounding behavior and morality. A bill like this might lead to people going to jail or being sued for something previously legal. And with high levels of mass incarceration, more prisoners may not be what\u2019s best for the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If this bill, and other ones like it, pass around the country, it shouldn\u2019t be that hard not to get into trouble. Just be honest with your sex partners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It might feel awkward to tell someone that you have an STD or are in an unhappy marriage, but the other person has a right to know. And doing so can help you find a sexual partner who wants you as you are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While much of this isn\u2019t new, it does expand the idea of consent\u2014it would no longer be legal to lie<\/strong> (or leave something important out) to someone to get them to sleep with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s What Would Be Illegal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Pros and Cons of the New Bill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Not To Get In Trouble<\/h2>\n\n\n\n