HB 5278 - An Act Concerning Intimate Examinations has officially been signed into law in Connecticut by Governor Lamont! We now have what is, in my opinion, one of the most comprehensive bills in the United States, requiring express written consent on a separate consent form for any intimate examination (pelvic, prostate, and rectal) by a student for training or education purposes. It also requires express written consent for any intimate exam that will be performed on a patient who is sedated, anesthetized, or unconscious unless an emergency arises which necessitates one. We owe a huge thank you to Representative Christine Conley for authoring and championing this legislation as well as Representative Jillian Gilchrest for being its fierce champion in the Public Health Committee and on the House floor and Representative Josh Elliott for being a committed champion of this bill. This wouldn't have happened without these brave and dedicated legislators, and they are heroes for the people of our state. A huge thank you is also owed to ALL OF YOU - your public support is a big part of what got us here and has raised significant awareness on this important issue. From the bottom of my heart, as a survivor and as an activist and an organizer, I truly will never be able to thank you enough. There is still work to be done. About half of all states still need to pass these laws, and I encourage you to support the activists working to make that happen if you can. Below are some suggestions for how to do so: 1. Check out The Epstein Project at https://www.epsteinprogram.com/home Professor Robin Fretwell Wilson has worked tirelessly for decades to pass laws like this, and without her we would not be here today. Please consider getting involved and supporting their work! 2. Check out this petition calling for consent laws in New Mexico: https://www.change.org/p/stop-non-consensual-pelvic-exams-on-anesthetized-patients-in-new-mexico The first thing I do after I post this update is signing and sharing! 3. Follow me on Twitter at @LiviaAnn1 and/or on Medium at https://medium.com/@projectlab I am continuing my work pushing for strong informed consent laws and would love to continue building this movement with you! Again, thank you so much for building this campaign and getting this done with us - the people of my state just had our right to dignity and autonomy codified in law, and it is thanks to your efforts. In love and solidarity, Livia