bill put forth to clarify antiquated California rape law

[niyad]

Bill Put Forth to Clarify Antiquated California Rape Law


In response to this disturbing case that resulted in a dropped rape conviction because the victim was unmarried, California State Sen. Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), chair of the California Women’s Caucus, decided it’s time to expand an 1870s rape law that currently applies only to married victims. The new legislation, SB 59, would replace “spouse” with “sexually intimate partner,” extending a provision–which previously only counted sex-by-impersonation as rape if the victim is married–to all cohabitants, including single women and men, domestic partners and gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender pairs.

While this is, of course, a positive development, the fact that this antiquated provision is just now being altered and that the Los Angeles Court of Appeals did nothing to protect a rape victim who was further victimized by a legal loophole is infuriating. Senator Evans, who coauthored this legislation along with 12 other senators, agrees:

I am shocked and appalled that the court didn’t see fit to uphold justice for this rape survivor. The fact that such an outdated loophole still exists is baffling, but I will introduce legislation this session that will bring uniform clarity. The definition of rape is found in the act itself and having sex with an unconscious person is rape. Period

http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2013/01/08/newsflash-bill-put-forth-to-clarify-antiquated-california-rape-law/

[mythology]

1. The case was sent back to the lower court to be tried for the sex with a sleeping woman portion

It's good that the change to the law is being made, but I don't know why it's limited to cohabitants.