Mississippi State Senator Bradford Blackmon, a Democrat, introduced a provocative bill this week titled the “Contraception Begins at Erection Act,” aimed at sparking debate over the gender imbalance in reproductive health legislation.
The bill, introduced Monday, would make it unlawful for individuals to “discharge genetic material without the intent to fertilize an embryo.” Exceptions are included for sperm donation and the use of contraception to prevent fertilization. Fines range from $1,000 for a first offense to $10,000 for repeat violations.
While unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled Mississippi Legislature, the bill underscores Blackmon’s intent to draw attention to the disproportionate burden placed on women by reproductive health laws.
“All across the country, especially here in Mississippi, the vast majority of bills relating to contraception and/or abortion focus on the woman’s role when men are fifty percent of the equation,” Blackmon said in a statement to WLBT News. “This bill highlights that fact and brings the man’s role into the conversation. People can get up in arms and call it absurd, but I can’t say that bothers me.”
Blackmon’s move comes as Republican-led legislatures nationwide increase restrictions on abortion and contraception access. Following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, states like Mississippi enacted near-total abortion bans. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 12 states currently impose these bans, while another six restrict abortion after six to 12 weeks of gestation.
Furthermore, research by the Guttmacher Institute indicates that by mid-2024, eight states had proposed or enacted measures restricting women’s access to contraception.
Supporters of Blackmon’s satirical bill argue that it effectively exposes the double standard in reproductive legislation. Critics, however, see it as unnecessary political theater.
If the bill were to pass and be signed into law by Republican Governor Tate Reeves, it would take effect in July. However, given the political climate in Mississippi, its likelihood of advancing remains slim.