ST. CLOUD — “Rape is never OK, no matter what the relationship,” said Lee LaDue, St. Cloud State’s gender violence prevention coordinator.
But up until last week, Minnesota law had a loophole that protected perpetrators who assaulted their partners while in a voluntary sexual relationship, LaDue said.
Lawmakers have repealed the provision that allowed for a “pre-existing relationship defense” or the so-called marital rape exception. Gov. Tim Walz signed the bill on Thursday.
