Sunday, February 9, 2020

Elephant in the World

There's an elephant in the hospital.  No, not a literal one.  It's the expression like "elephant in the room."

So, there's an elephant in the hospital and most people are afraid of talking about it.  They're afraid for their jobs, their friends, their family, their livelihood, maybe even their lives!  Yes, lives!  People, like Martin Luther King, have lost their lives speaking the truth.  But, the world has become a better place because of people like this.

What is this elephant?  It's the question as to whether we should be modifying the genitalia of children without a medical need.  And, no, I am not just talking about male "circumcision."  In certain countries little girls also go through "circumcision" or what some consider "Female Genital Mutilation."  Even in the USA customizing female genitalia was performed in hospitals.  The USA is once again at risk of it restarting since a federal judge struck down the law in 2018.  It is a practice in hospitals of some countries as it is considered safer to meet cultural and religious demands.  I am also talking about intersex normalization surgeries.  There are many different possibilities when it comes to these, and many that went through them consider them genital mutilation as well.

Much of the fear that drives these genital customizations of children is rooted in other fears.  Fears that they will have to get something done as adults and that would be more painful.  Fears that they will be social outcasts.  Fears that they might get a rare disease.  And, all these fears apply to all cases, not just boys.

I believe that male genital cutting has to end if we expect the others to end.

The next generation needs YOU to be brave.

There are many ways to speak out, even incognito.  If you register at GenitalAutonomySociety.org, you will only be contacted by those running the organization.  There are options provided by Your Whole Baby that allow you to advocate without giving up your identity.  There are organizations that are promoted/supported by GenitalAutonomySociety.org that can be donated to in private.  There are many advocates that would do more if their finances allowed them to.  GenitalAutonomySociety.org desires to enable them to do so.