Texas bill would fine men $100 for masturbating
A bill introduced in the US state of Texas would fine men $100 for masturbating, unless they do it in an approved medical facility.
The bill, 4260, was introduced by Representative Jessica Farrar, is in response to debates around women’s reproductive health across the US.
The three-page bill was read out by Farrar, a Democrat.
Intended as a satirical attack on the way that male politicians try to make judgements on women’s bodies, the bill would restrict men in the same way that some seek to restrict women’s access to abortions and contraceptives.
“A lot of people find the bill funny,” Farrar The Houston Chronicle.
“What’s not funny are the obstacles that Texas women face every day, that were placed there by legislatures making it very difficult for them to access healthcare.”
Of the 50 states, Texas has some of the most restrictive laws on abortion.
Farrar said she couldn’t take anymore when she came across a bill which would have forced women to bury or cremate an aborted fetus.
The bill also suggests that men should have a rectal exam before they can be prescribed Viagra or be given a vasectomy.
It also suggests that men should be given a booklet titled ‘A Man’s Right to Know’.
“An attending physician must administer a medically-unnecessary digital rectal exam and magnetic resonance imagining of the rectum before administering an elective vasectomy or colonoscopy procedure, or prescribing Viagra,” it reads.
According to Bill 4260, “masturbatory emissions” will be collected at medical facilities to be used for conception.
“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,” it reads.
Masturbating more can dramatically increase your health
Aside from being a great stress reliever, masturbation has distinct health benefits, according to the results of a major study last year.
The study – published in European Urology – followed 30,000 men for nearly 20 years and found that men who ejaculated more often had lower incidents of prostate cancer than those who did it less.
It also found that masturbating a lot when younger decreases health problems in later life.
Men in their 20s who ejaculated at least 21 times a month were 19% less likely to be diagnosed than men who ejaculated no more than seven times a month.
Even in their 40s, men who regularly pleasured themselves were 22% less likely to get prostate cancer.
“Ejaculation frequency is, to some extent, a measure of overall health status in that men at the very low end of ejaculation – 0 to 3 times per month – were more likely to have other (medical problems) and die prematurely from causes other than prostate cancer,” lead author Jennifer Rider told the AP.
Rider says their data suggests “ejaculation and safe sexual activity throughout adulthood could be a beneficial strategy for reducing the risk of prostate cancer.”
Results of the study also found that 1,041 cases occurred among men who ejaculated 4 to 7 times a month, whereas just 290 cases occurred among men who ejaculated at least 21 times a month.
Last year, another survey found that the number of straight men who have had gay sex is surprisingly high.
The survey – conducted by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention – asked respondents about the types of sexual experiences they have had and whether they are attracted to the same or opposite sex.
The 9,000 respondents – aged between 18 and 44 – were also asked how they chose to label their sexual orientations.
Results showed that the number of straight men who have had sex with another man had risen significantly – with 2.3 percent of men engaging in same-sex sexual activity identifying as heterosexual.
