New Bill in New York Aims to Outlaw Hymen Exams

Sorry T.I.

The Glow Up reports that a New York State Legislator has introduced a bill to outlaw hymen exams and virginity tests. Specifically, the bill is to prohibit the practice of medical examinations of the hymen intended to verify virginal status. Assemblywoman Michaëlle C. Solages (D-N.Y.) introduced the bill.

According to The Glow Up, a hymen exam typically is inserting a speculum or fingers into the vagina to determine the presence and intactness of the hymen. The hymen is the tissue that surrounds the vaginal opening of biologically assigned females at birth. The elasticity of the vaginal walls is typically checked as well. There is a common misconception that the looseness or disruption of the hymen is an indication of sexual activity.

The big push for this legislation comes from a recent story where rapper and producer, T.I., was discussing how he accompanied his daughter to the OBGYN for her annual visit, according to The Glow Up. T.I. said he asked the doctor to check her hymen to make sure she was a virgin.