Health

Lawmaker's New Bill Targets Men's Masturbation Habits

March 12th 2017

Tired of men proposing legislation aiming to limit women's reproductive rights, one Texas Senator filed her own bill that takes a shot at men.

manStocksy/Chase Castor - stocksy.com

Rep. Jessica Farrar proposed a bill Friday which would fine men for unregulated masturbation. The Houston Democrat's bill, titled, "A Man's Right to Know" states:

Emissions outside of a woman's vagina, or created outside of a health or medical facility, will be charged a $100 civil penalty for each emission, and will be considered an act against an unborn child, and failing to preserve the sanctity of life.

The bill is satirical, but as Farrar told The Houston Chronicle, it's not funny. "There is nothing funny about current health care restrictions for women and the very real legislation that is proposed every legislative session," Farrar wrote on Facebook Saturday.

The language of the bill mimics the language of previous proposed women's health legislation in the state, Farrar wrote on Twitter Saturday. Texas legislators have proposed bills, such as House Bill 948, which aimed to make abortion a felony, and House Bill 35, which would require the cremation or burial of a fetus that was aborted or miscarried.

In addition to fining masturbation, the bill details procedures such as vasectomies and colonoscopies, and ensures "a doctor's right to invoke their personal, moralistic, or religious beliefs in refusing to perform elective vasectomy or prescribe Viagra."

Before electing to these procedures, according to the legislation, a man must receive an illustrated booklet titled, "A Man's Right to Know" - which was likely inspired by the Texas pamphlet that's given to women seeking abortions - detailing the procedures and the doctor must "verbally review it with him."

Farrar said the pamphlet is used to guilt women into changing their minds about an abortion, according to The Houston Chronicle.

Women's Right to KnowTexas Department of State Health Services

The bill also satirizes unnecessary medical procedures women must get before consenting to an abortion, with men also having to receive a "medically-unnecessary digital rectal exam."

Farrar's attempt to highlight the multiple pieces of legislation that have been proposed in the state to limit women's reproductive rights hasn't gone unrecognized, at least not on twitter.

Access to reproductive healthcare is a real issue in Texas, and many parts of the country. The majority of women in Texas face barriers to receiving reproductive healthcare, according to The Tribune.

Farrar said she hopes that her bill will help men to realize the obstacles many women face when trying to access basic health care.

Share your opinion

Should a woman have to read a pamphlet before consenting to abortion?

Yes 19%No 81%