Should sex with an unconscious person be rape, politician questions

Utah is currently passing a bill which would make it clear that an unconscious person cannnot consent to sex.

As the bill was debated in committee stage on Tuesday, Brian Greene, a Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives, had some questions.

"It looks to me now that sex with an unconscious person is by definition rape," he said. "I hope this would not happen but this opens the door to if an individual has sex with their wife if she is unconscious... A prosecutor could then charge that spouse with rape."

Greene later explained he was "not at all trying to justify sexual activity with an unconscious person", adding: "It's abhorrent to me". Despite his initial misgivings the bill was passed through committee stage unanimously, according to Good4Utah, and will now be debated by Utah legislature.

"This is something that's been a long time coming," the bill sponsor's Angela Romero said after the meeting. "At the end of the day, if someone's unconscious or they're a vulnerable adult, then the logical answer is: Don't try to have a sexual relationship with them."

More: Meet the journalist who reports people who threaten to rape her - to their mothers

HT Think Progress