Parents, protect your babies. Support intactivism. The following list includes blogs, articles, and websites of interest to Intactivists that were published in the past week. This is a running tally of the ones I found interesting.

The good news this week is that the media picked up on the news that Colorado Medicaid is no longer funding infant circumcision in the state. That makes 18 states where the government does not pay for the elective surgery done to baby boys. In addition to the direct savings for the government not paying for male infant circumcision through Medicaid, there will be additional savings because corrective surgeries for botched circumcisions will be reduced with the fewer circumcisions being performed.
 

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Moral Low Ground: Anti-Circumcision Comic Hero’s Anti-Semitic Undertones do Disservice to Noble Cause
Although Moral Low Ground believes that the practice of circumcising newborn baby boys is barbaric, they also believe that the Foreskin Man comics has hurt the cause for genital integrity. The Foreskin Man comic book alienated many groups who could possibly have been allies.

The Guggie Daily: The Torah Against Genital Mutilation
A list of quotes and links regarding the Jewish rite of male circumcision, including information on Brit Shalom, a naming rite without cutting.
 

Monday, June 20, 2011

Salem-News: A Message to Jewish Americans on Circumcision
The Jewish Circumcision Resource Center, an educational organization in Boston that is connected with the Circumcision Resource Center, released a statement on circumcision intended for Jewish Americans. The statement, which is signed by a Statement Task Force of Jews who are actively involved in the issue, raises questions about Jewish circumcision and encourages Jews to engage in critical thinking about the practice. "We want Jews to know that in this country and abroad, some Jews do not circumcise their sons. Circumcision is a choice, and now that we know the serious harm caused by circumcision, there are strong reasons to forgo it," said Ronald Goldman, Ph.D., Executive Director. Dr. Goldman is the author of Questioning Circumcision: A Jewish Perspective, endorsed by five rabbis.

Lizard Dick: Hello, Is This Thing On?
A man restoring his foreskin gives a progress report after his first month wearing a TLC Tugger. The more he wears the tugger, the better he learns how to put it on and arrange the tugging strap.
 

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Intactivist Blog: Foreskin Restoration Links, A Starting Point
A list of foreskin restoration websites and web pages. There are links explaining why men restore their foreskin and how to restore the foreskin. Other links point to pages that describe methods and devices used for foreskin restoration.

Blog Talk Radio: Intactivists, & Humanitarianism on Progressive Parenting
A radio broadcast with an interview of Lloyd Schofield, the man behind the San Francisco, California, circumcision ballot measure. He seeks to restrict circumcision to those 18 and older.

Jewish Journal: The great California foreskin fight of 2011
A good analysis of the two sides to the male infant circumcision debate. Jena Troutman, the woman behind the withdrawn Santa Monica circumcision ballot measure, is interviewed. Her contact with Matthew Hess was limited to obtaining a draft of the proposed circumcision ballot measure. She is not associated with the Foreskin Man comic book.

Solutions: Unkindest cut: Medicaid won’t cover circumcision in Colorado
Colorado joins 17 other states in dropping coverage for routine infant circumcision under Medicaid. The move was part of a series of budget cuts approved by lawmakers during the recent legislative session. Gillian Longley, a member of the National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers (NOCIRC), said that until recently, new parents were remarkably ill-informed of the pros and cons of circumcision. In addition to the direct savings for the government not paying for male infant circumcision through Medicaid, there will be additional savings because corrective surgeries for botched circumcisions will be reduced.

Beyond the Bris: Anti-Circumcision Group Addresses Jewish Issues
Male Circumcision and HIV: JEWISH CIRCUMCISION RESOURCE CENTER: A Message to Jewish Americans on Circumcision
The Jewish Circumcision Resource Center has released a statement intended for Jewish Americans. The statement says that the Jewish Circumcision Resource Center of Boston supports Jews who believe that circumcision is unethical and that it is not a necessity for full engagement in Jewish life. "Our essential message is that all Jews do have a choice; we can be fully identified and affiliated as Jews, and fully engaged spiritually in a Jewish context, without circumcising our infants. Some families have chosen brit shalom, a beautiful welcoming ceremony for infant boys and girls without genital cutting."
 

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Denver Post: Medicaid will stop covering circumcisions in Colorado
Colorado will end coverage for routine circumcisions under Medicaid next month, saving thousands of dollars. There will be additional savings from the reduction of corrective surgeries for botched circumcisions.
 

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Georgetown University YouTube Video: Child Circumcision: an Elephant in the Hospital

A presentation about male infant circumcision by Ryan McAllister, Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor at Georgetown University. He is also the founding coordinator of NotJustSkin.org and co-founder of Positive Relating. One point he makes is that male infant circumcision is better called male genital cutting. Also, intact is a better than saying uncircumcised. These words are more descriptive.

Beyond the Bris: Jewish Opponents of Circumcision Grow More Vocal
Many Jews are speaking out against male infant circumcision. The Jewish Circumcision Resource Center statement against male infant circumcision was signed my several Jews who support ending male genital cutting of infants.

Boulder Weekly: To cut or not to cut?
Infant circumcision is an elective procedure that offers a handful of possible benefits, while causing newborn boys proven pain and exposing them to a host of unnecessary risks. The bottom line is that male infant circumcision is not necessary and comes with risks that might not outweigh possible benefits.
 

Friday, June 24, 2011

Should I circumcise?: Everyone wants to circumcise the world
Why do people really circumcise babies? Was it a parent's fear, desire to conform, or possibly the father's own scar on his circumcised penis.

CBS News: Circumcision funding cutbacks stoke angry debate
Huffington Post: Circumcision Gets Caught Up In Budget Crisis
Colorado stops government funding of male infant circumcision through Medicaid. Many are upset, including one doctor who incorrectly says circumcision prevents urinary tract infections and penile cancer. (Infant circumcision prevents neither UTIs nor cancer.) Sounds like the doctor is more concerned about making money for doing elective surgery on infants than she is for meeting the needs of her patient - the baby who deserves his whole body.
 

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Intact News: WHO recommends intact for men who have sex with men and transgender people
World Health Organization guideline Prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men and transgender people was recently published. Pages 32 on in the WHO Guidelines recommend intact over circumcised, citing a lack of evidence for male circumcision preventing HIV and STI acquisition in MSM and transgender people. Current research in this area is of a  "very low quality," and there is a lack of research for MSM practicing insertive versus receptive anal intercourse.