New York rape law strips legal protections from victims who are raped while “voluntarily” intoxicated. Under current New York law, a perpetrator can get away with raping a victim who is so intoxicated they are stumbling, incoherent, and defenseless if the victim voluntarily consumed the alcohol or drug that intoxicated them. This law is victim-blaming and says that if a woman gets drunk she’s asking for it. .

It’s time to eliminate this outdated, victim-blaming law. Survivor advocates have put forward a bill to immediately close this loophole–S 10632. This bill says it is rape if a victim is too intoxicated to temporarily be able to appraise or control their conduct and their condition was known or reasonably should have been known to the alleged perpetrator. We need to pass S 10632 to close the loophole and protect survivors now.

Unfortunately, opponents of the bill are trying to trick women into passing a weak, watered down version that retains the loophole. They want to keep the victim-blaming requirements of the law that failed Jane Doe at Cornell. Not good enough. Women don’t want this fake bill, A-101A.

Please take a few moments to complete this form and send New York state Senator Fernandez an email asking her to please stick with women and pass S 10632.  

Everyone can take this important action, and the message can be personalized. If you are a resident of New York, please be sure to let Sen. Fernandez know. Instructions in the next step.