T.I.'s Hymen Comments Spark NY Lawmakers To Introduce Bill Banning Virginity Exams
The rapper recently shared that he accompanies his daughter to the gynecologist to check her hymen.
New York lawmakers are aiming to ban virginity exams (also known as "purity exams") in light of T.I.'s recent admission that he and his daughter Deyjah Harris have yearly trips to the gynecologist to check her hymen.
READ: 5 Things T.I. Got Wrong In His 'Red Table Talk' Conversation With Jada Pinkett Smith
In a report from Huff Post, New York Senate bill S06879 aims to "prevent the performance of hymen examinations on women as a means to ascertain whether a woman is a virgin."
"Considering the federal government has yet to enact legislation to prohibit this invasive and medically unnecessary procedure, the onus of eliminating 'virginity tests' is on state governments," the bill states. "This legislation would ban the performance of professional hymen exams as a means to ascertain whether a woman is a virgin, and the bill stipulates that if someone disregards these rules, it will be considered an act of professional misconduct."
The legislation is sponsored by state Sen. Roxanne Persaud, and its New York Assembly counterpart is sponsored by state Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages and co-sponsored by Rick Gottfried, Andrew Hevesi and Walter T. Mosle.
T.I. faced backlash after disclosing his daughter's checkups on a podcast taping with hosts Nazanin Mandi and Nadia Moham during a discussion on talking to kids about sex.
"Not only have we had the [sex] conversation, we have yearly trips to the gynecologist to check her hymen," T.I. said of his 18-year-old daughter.
"So we'll go and sit down and the doctor comes and talk, and the doctor's maintaining a high level of professionalism. He's like, ‘You know, sir, I have to, in order to share information’ — I’m like, ‘Deyjah, they want you to sign this so we can share information. Is there anything you would not want me to know? See, Doc? Ain’t no problem," the rapper added.
T.I. spoke on the controversy during a recent appearance on Jada Pinkett Smith's Red Table Talk.
'My intentions have been terribly misconstrued and misconceived," the rapper said. "Deyjah knows how I am and who I’ve always been. The outside noise is distracting and confusing. It’s hurtful and embarrassing."
Source: Huff Post