Tap forward to learn more about "stealthing."
Source: Alexandra Brodsky, Columbia Journal for Gender and Law
There are also online message boards where men discuss and advocate for the act.
Source: Josie Torielli, assistant director of intervention programs at the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault
Absolutely. The stealthing partner has made decisions about the other partner's health, future, family plans, and well-being without a care for the other partner's position. That's sexual assault.
There’s currently no federal law against stealthing, which means legal protections vary depending on the state you’re in.
In New York, you can go the criminal process route, through your school, or file a civil action through family court. You can also try all of the above at once.
The element of “he said, she said” makes the burden of proof impossibly high in many cases — but also because there is no clear legal statute that addresses stealthing.
The best place to start is reaching out to an advocacy organization like the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN) or Safe Horizon to understand your options.
If you think you think a partner may have stealthed, be sure to seek out STI screening and, if necessary, Plan B.
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