Fate of New York 'rape is rape' legislation remains unclear as it stalls in Senate

It’s been an entire decade since legislation was first introduced in the State Capitol that would expand the definition of rape in New York.

A full ten years of advocates and supporters arguing for the measure, typically referred to as the “Rape is Rape” bill, and hoping lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will see the need to broaden the legal definition of rape beyond vaginal penetration.

The bill, as written, would redefine rape to include non-consensual sexual contact, including oral and anal, which are currently prosecuted as criminal sexual acts.

Since 2012, the Democratic-led Assembly approved the bill, and it passed again last week by a margin of 129 to 16. The bill has failed to pass the Senate due to being under Republican control until 2019 and pushback from prosecutors.

“For the last 10 years, the Assembly has passed the “Rape is Rape” bill in our effort to give survivors of rape the dignity they deserve,” said sponsor Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz (D-Queens). “Our law is currently enshrined in outdated gendered notions of rape, creating different categories of sexual assault for what is clearly ‘Rape.’”

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/new-york-elections-government/ny-legislation-defining-rape-stalls-in-state-senate-20220122-25fmz4swzfdu3pwmhmbzx7hvzu-story.html#nt=pf-triple%20chain~triple-recommender~recommender~automated~nycpolitics-recommender~25FMZ4SWZFDU3PWMHMBZX7HVZU~1~5~1~3~art%20yes
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Damn Repigs. Yes I said PIGS.