A new proposed bill in Ohio and Mississipi could mean that men face a $10,000 fine if they ejaculate without the intention of having a baby.
The proposed legislation, named the “Conception Begins at Erection Act,” was unveiled by Ohio State Representatives Anita Somani and Tristan Rader, per the New York Post.
It seeks to make ejaculation without the intent of conception a felony offense, with fines ranging from $1,008.49 for a first offense to over $10,000 for repeat violations.
The bill has drawn sharp criticism from conservative lawmakers, including Ohio State Representative Austin Beigel (R), who dismissed it as “a mockery of the most basic biological concepts.”
“It’s beyond ridiculous what’s going on here,” Beigel said in response to the proposal.
But here’s the catch, it isn’t meant to be taken seriously.
Supporters of the bill acknowledge that it is not meant to be taken literally but rather to spark a broader discussion about reproductive rights and gender-based legal double standards, per NBC News.
“You don’t get pregnant on your own,” said Representative Somani (D-Dublin). “If you’re going to penalize someone for an unwanted pregnancy, why not penalize the person who is also responsible for the pregnancy?”
The bill comes in response to a growing number of state-level abortion bans following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Currently, abortion is illegal in ten states, even in cases of rape.
At least three women have been jailed under these laws, sparking national outrage.
Somani insists the bill is meant to challenge the logic of restrictive reproductive policies. “If you think it’s absurd to regulate men, then you should think it’s equally absurd to regulate women,” she said. “So this is to make a statement.”
However, the debate over reproductive rights extends beyond abortion, with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas suggesting that the court re-evaluate long-standing rulings on contraception.
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The discussion also intersects with issues surrounding in-vitro fertilization (IVF), which some religious conservatives consider unethical due to their interpretation of biblical scripture.
The Trump administration has signaled support for expanding IVF access, promising federal subsidies to address declining birth rates.
This move has received mixed reactions from activists, with some arguing that life begins at fertilization and that embryos should have constitutional protections.
The ongoing debate is fueled in part by Christian nationalist movements that advocate for a government aligned with biblical law. Republican Missouri Senator Josh Hawley has openly embraced the idea.
“Some will say now that I am calling America a Christian nation. So I am,” Hawley said in June last year. “And some will say that I am advocating Christian nationalism. And so I do.”
Evangelical groups often cite biblical passages such as Genesis 38:6-11, which tells the story of Onan, who was killed by God after he refused to impregnate his deceased brother’s wife, as evidence of divine opposition to contraception and masturbation.
While the “Conception Begins at Erection Act” is unlikely to pass, it draws attention to Ohio’s recent referendum, in which voters decisively approved a constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights.
The measure, passed with 57% support, enshrines the right to abortion, contraception, fertility treatments, and miscarriage care in the state’s constitution.
Despite this, Representative Beigel has introduced the Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act, which seeks to grant embryos full legal rights under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
If enacted, this law could override the will of Ohio voters and criminalize abortion statewide.
