Well, they finally did it. Politicians are now prohibiting people from having sex. If they live in different homes, that is.
The first politicians to make this daring political move are in the UK. Yes, the UK’s rules and guidelines around the coronavirus has changed. An amendment to the Health Protections (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Bill was announced last night. In it, there’s now the rule that two or more people that live in different households cannot interact indoors. Plus, the regulations state that a gathering is “when two or more people are present together in the same place in order to engage in any form of social interaction with each other or to undertake any other activity with each other.”
More specifically, it says, “No person may participate in a gathering which takes place in a public or private place indoors, and consists of two or more persons.”
Afraid to say this is correct.
I can't believe I'm about to tweet this.
From tomorrow sex between two (or more) people in a private place who do not live in the same household is a "gathering" between 2 or more people and is therefore illegal. https://t.co/aEiGIoweee pic.twitter.com/b0KZBACSQ4
— Adam Wagner (@AdamWagner1) May 31, 2020
“I can't believe I'm about to tweet this,” wrote human rights advocate Adam Wagner on Twitter after hearing the news. “From tomorrow sex between two (or more) people in a private place who do not live in the same household is a “gathering” between 2 or more people and is therefore illegal.”
Exceptions, Loopholes, & Problems
There are some exceptions to the law. “No person may, without reasonable excuse, stay overnight at any place other than the place where they are living.”
But what counts as a “reasonable excuse?” The law’s pretty vague about this. Imagine getting arrested and having to come up with an excuse for why you’re “conducting business” with someone? Probably not the best moment of anyone’s life.
But that’s not all the law leaves open for interpretation. According to Yahoo News, some are seeing a potential loophole in the new legislation. Queen’s Council member George Peretz tweeted that the law could leave room for people to have sex with an escort. After all, that could be argued as work of a different kind.
As I read this, unless you live together, it’s now unlawful to have sex with your lover indoors, but fine outdoors (subject to public decency offences); but you can have sex with an escort indoors, as that is reasonably necessary for their work purposes (see 7(d)(i)). https://t.co/QXbT1EYikt
— George Peretz KC 🇺🇦 (@GeorgePeretzKC) May 31, 2020
That wasn’t the only problem that Peretz had with the legislation. He also saw a problem with the law being introduced to the country just 14 hours before becoming active. Plus, he says there was no vote in Parliament. Because of this, he finds the entire situation to be “very likely unlawful.”
Will UK citizens be ok with not being able to “gather” with anyone outside of their home? What do you think? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below.
