by Scott Emick
2/13/2025
In a legislative twist that’s sure to raise more than a few eyebrows, Ohio lawmakers have introduced the “Conception Begins at Erection Act,” a bill that would make it a felony for men to ejaculate without the intent to procreate. The proposed penalties? A wallet-draining fine of up to $10,000 per unauthorized emission. Talk about putting your money where your… well, you get the idea.
State Representatives Anita Somani and Tristan Rader, the masterminds behind this provocative proposal, aim to highlight the perceived hypocrisy in regulating women’s reproductive rights by turning the tables on men. “You don’t get pregnant on your own,” Somani pointed out, emphasizing that if women are subject to reproductive regulations, perhaps men should be too.
The bill outlines a tiered penalty system: a first offense would result in a $1,000 fine, escalating to $5,000 for the second, and climaxing at $10,000 for the third. However, there are exceptions. Activities such as masturbation, sperm donation, and sexual relations within the LGBTQ+ community are exempt, as they don’t involve the immediate possibility of fertilizing an egg. The primary target? Men engaging in heterosexual intercourse without the intent to conceive.
Critics have been quick to label the bill as absurd. Republican activist Austin Beigel remarked, “It’s beyond ridiculous what’s going on here. It’s a mockery of the most basic biological concepts.”
But that’s precisely the point. Rader explained that the bill is designed to underscore “the vast inequalities of how we talk about men’s bodies and how we talk about women’s bodies.” He added, “If you find this language to be absurd, then maybe you should find any bill attempting to restrict reproductive freedoms absurd as well.”
While the “Conception Begins at Erection Act … is unlikely to become law in Ohio’s GOP-controlled legislature, it has certainly succeeded in stimulating conversation. Whether you see it as a hard-hitting critique or just a cheeky provocation, one thing’s for sure: this bill has brought a whole new meaning to the phrase “legislative action.”
