December 2015 Archives

A South Carolina lawmaker wants to give male legislators a taste of their own medicine, by introducing a bill intended to show men what it's like to have their reproductive rights meddled with.

The bill would require men seeking Viagra, Cialis, or any other erectile dysfunction medication to go through the same hoops women must endure when seeking an abortion, like a 24-hour waiting period and counseling sessions, "including sexual counseling and resources for patients to pursue celibacy as a viable lifestyle choice."

Other requirements include a note from at least one sexual partner confirming that the patient has experienced ED symptoms, and submitting to an exam by a state-licensed sex therapist, to make sure the ED isn't attributable to "other psychological factors."

The bill is being introduced by South Carolina state Rep. Mia McLeod (D-Columbia), who said, "I purposely tried to make it as invasive, as intrusive, as hypocritical and unnecessary as possible to make the point." McLeod doesn't expect the bill to get any traction, but hopes her point is taken by her male colleagues.

This isn't the first time a legislator has proposed such a bill. In 2012, two Ohio lawmakers, state Sen. Nina Turner and state Rep. Ted Celeste, introduced similar bills aimed at restricting men's access to Viagra to highlight inequities in reproductive rights. Celeste's bill, in fact, went even further, requiring men to get rectal prostate exams.

McLeod's bill is relatively lenient by comparison, requiring the fellas to just take a seat and chill, rather than bend over.