Tag: Consent

California’s “Yes Means Yes” Bill

Filed in National by on August 29, 2014 135 Comments
California’s “Yes Means Yes” Bill

The California state senate unanimously approved a bill on Thursday that defines when “yes” means “yes” to sex. Instead of “no means no” – the phrase commonly associated with sexual assault prevention – the law would require “affirmative, conscious, and voluntary agreement” by each party to engage in sexual activity. If Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signs the bill into law – he has until the end of September – colleges and universities would have to adopt the so-called affirmative consent standard to continue receiving state funds for student financial aid.

Under the proposed standard, the fact that a person didn’t say “no” is no defense in a campus sexual assault investigation.

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