'Stealthing' ban goes down after lawmakers stop 'uncomfortable' debate

Measure would have made clear nonconsensual condom removal is illegal in South Dakota

Rep. Phil Jensen used a procedural rule to end debate on House Bill 1204, shielding opponents from defending votes against measure that would have expressly stated that removing a condom during sex without consent is illegal. (Joe Sneve/The Dakota Scout)

PIERRE — GOP House lawmakers in the South Dakota Capitol have unanimously rejected a measure to clarify that removing a condom during sex without consent is illegal.

Representatives in the state House voted 63-7 Monday to kill House Bill 1204, which sought to explicitly add what’s referred to as “stealthing” to the list of prohibited acts of sexual violence outlined in state law.

“This is probably the most uncomfortable bill I will ever bring to the South Dakota Legislature. … But I am willing to be uncomfortable and I am willing to have this conversation,” Rep. Kadyn Wittman said in support of the measure she sponsored.

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But House Republicans were not. Following the Sioux Falls Democrats’ remarks from the chamber floor, GOP members used a procedural move to end debate on HB 1204, resulting in no statements of opposition being heard before the 70-member body cast a party-line vote.