Did you agree to have to sex with your new crush with the condition that he use a condom only to find out that the condom “came off” midway? You may have been “stealthed”. This is when someone secretly and intentionally removes his condom during sex, without telling his partner. While this practice is not new, a recent study has given a name to this alarming trend and one California Assemblywoman is working to include “stealthing” as a form of rape.
Consent is when you voluntarily decide to have sex with someone. You can withdraw your consent at any time by letting your partner know when you’re not comfortable with a specific act and want to stop. If you agree to have sex with someone with a condom and your partner does not respect your decision by taking off the condom without telling you, it puts you at risk of getting an STD or becoming pregnant.
When you decide to have sex with someone, it’s important to communicate what you’re comfortable with and not comfortable with. If you think that have been a victim of “stealthing” and want to get help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).