The Federal government is trying to limit states and local governments. A recent House Bill seeks to prohibit states from restricting male genital cutting, although most states have such restrictions for female genital cutting. United States Representative Brad Sherman introduced a Bill in the House seeking to prevent any government entity in the United States from prohibiting male infant circumcision. The Anti-anti-circumcision bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for consideration.

US Representative Brad Sherman is a California Democrat for the 27th District. He is joined in the Bill by 9 co-sponsors. The names and contact information for the Congressmen are listed below. Everyone is encouraged to contact these Congressmen and let them know how ill-conceived the Bill is.

The Federal Bill is remarkably similar to California State Bill AB 768, which is an Anti-anti-circumcision Bill for the State of California.[1]

Intactivists seek genital integrity for all children. This means we want to see male infant circumcision end in the United States and do not want female circumcision to be reinstated in the US. Cutting the sex organ of a child, boy or girl,  is barbaric and has no place in the modern world.

Some religions still practice the ritual of genital cutting. Jews practice ritual circumcision of infant boys. Muslims practice ritual circumcision of both boys and girls. In Indonesia, female circumcision is widely practiced on infant girls. Generally, only a sliver is removed.[1]

Recently, the second issue of the Foreskin Man comic book became news because of its imagery. Foreskin Man Number One has the hero fighting an evil doctor to save a boy's foreskin from amputation. Foreskin Man Number Two has the hero, a blond-haired strapping male, fighting "Monster Mohel," a bearded, black-hatted man wearing a prayer shawl.

When the second comic came out late last year, I was surprised that there was not more of an outcry against it. Perhaps the intactivism movement had not garnered enough attention where the comic was considered worth speaking up about. With two cities in California considering banning infant circumcision, the comic was put in the spotlight. The controversy was enough for the backer of the Santa Monica, California, effort to drop out. The ballot measure to ban infant circumcision in San Francisco, California, continues.

Genital Integrity Awareness Week (GIAW) starts March 28 and runs through April 3, 2011. This year marks the 18th Annual Demonstration / March Against Infant Circumcision in Washington, DC. The demonstration and march is the annual event promoted by the Stop Infant Circumcision Society.

Every year, on the anniversary the Female Genital Mutilation Bill took effect in 1997, intactivists demonstrate. Intactivists hope to have the protection offered to girls extended to boys. There is an ongoing program to enact a male genital mutilation bill in the United States and in every state. Every child should be able to grow up with intact genitalia.

Washington, DC, Demonstration

Washington, DC, is the site of the main demonstration. The 18th Annual March/Demonstration Against Infant Circumcision starts on Monday, March 28th, and runs until Sunday, April 3rd, 2011. Demonstrators meet at the West Lawn of the US Capitol building in Washington, DC, every morning at 9am until 6pm. See the Facebook event page for more information.

On Wednesday, March 30th, 2011, the Washington, DC, demonstrators will march from the US Capitol to the White House. The march will begin at 4:00pm. On Saturday, April 2nd, 2011, the Washington, DC, demonstrators will march from the US Capitol to the White House. The march will begin at 4:00pm.

I hate, hate, HATE the arguments, "My son needs to be circumcised because girls will make fun of him if he isn't" or "It looks gross." These statements just highlight the fact that circumcision is a 100% cosmetic procedure, something that is done to make a boy conform to the aesthetic standards of his parents. Ok, for those of you who have never seen an intact, erect adult penis - here ya go. Now, was that so scary? It pretty much looks like an intact circumcised penis - or does it?

Circumcision removes healthy, important skin. It makes sense that this procedure would have some undesirable side effects. The problem is, since circumcision is so widespread, these problems seem NORMAL and are seen as acceptable! "I was circumcised and I was fine! But, my penis curves and my pubic hair extends onto the shaft. And it is two different colors. But that's all normal and unrelated." Scarring caused by the surgery is hardly noticeable to the average person, but once you realize that penises are not meant to look that way - the results are glaringly obvious.