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Draft:Intact America

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Intact America
Merged intoGenital Autonomy America (formerly NOCIRC)
Formation2008
TypeNonprofit
PurposeChildren's rights
HeadquartersTarrytown, NY
Executive Director
Georganne Chapin
Websitehttps://intactamerica.org

Intact America (IA) is a nonprofit children’s rights advocacy organization that opposes male circumcision of minors.[1] The intactivist (anti-circumcision) organization’s position is that circumcision is genital cutting, and that the cutting or surgical alteration of the genitals of non-consenting minors (male, female, or intersex) is unethical, medically unnecessary,[2] and traumatic. IA’s focus is on stopping newborn male circumcision in the United States. The organization argues that parental consent is poorly informed and sometimes coerced,[3] and states that amputating the foreskin reduces sexual function and sensation in adult males.

Intact America’s strategy is primarily public facing. The organization is noted for its “huge publicity drive.”[4] Intact America has discussed the intactivist movement[5][6] and the circumcision debate[7][8][9][10] with news agencies. IA is also a journalistic resource for various intersectional aspects of genital cutting or genital mutilation including informed consent and decision making,[11][12][13] education,[14][15][16] advocacy,[17][18] activism,[19][20][21] anti-Semitism,[22][23][24] LGBTQ+,[25] ethics, and foreskin restoration,[26] as well as engaging with the Hispanic community[27] and celebrities.[28][29]

“Intact America is the largest charitable organization in the U.S. working to end unnecessary genital cutting.”[30] Genital Autonomy America (previously known as the National Organizations for Circumcision Information Resource Centers or NOCIRC[31]) merged with IA in 2021. NOCIRC was founded in 1986 and is regarded as the first national, organized intactivist group.[32]

Intact America is a 501(c)(3) non-governmental advocacy organization. IA has a Guidestar Platinum 2024 Rating,[33] the highest level of recognition for commitment to transparency. The organization has no state or regional chapters, nor affiliates.

Initiatives

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Intact America promotes its initiatives that focus on a major aspect of the issue in companion websites.

One of many "Voices" posters for the Skin In The Game initiative
"Voices" poster for the Skin In The Game initiative
  • SkinInTheGame.org A photographic collection of first-person accounts from victims, survivors, and stakeholders concerning circumcision and related genital harm stories.
  • Intact.gay A foreskin-positive website designed to engage the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Foreskin.day Intact America created National Foreskin Day, April 4 to promote the normalcy of the male foreskin.[34]
  • DoNoHarm.report A free, online service for consumers to file medical complaints about forcible foreskin retraction, circumcision solicitation and complications, and other iatrogenic genital harms.
  • CircumcisionDebate.org An entry-level website on the description and history of newborn male circumcision.
  • AdverseChildhoodExperiences.net Recommends adding all forms of male, female, and intersex genital cutting to ACE checklists.

Outreach

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Symposiums

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NOCIRC 15th International Symposium on Genital Integrity attendees watching a presentation, San Francisco, 2018
NOCIRC 15th International Symposium on Genital Integrity, San Francisco, 2018

Intact America co-sponsored five NOCIRC symposiums prior to their merger. IA continued holding the NOCIRC symposiums[35] after their merger with Intact 2022, the 16th symposium, in Atlanta, Georgia.[36] NOCIRC sponsored the first International Symposium on Genital Integrity in Berkeley, California in 1989. The more-or-less biennial conferences were held in locations around the United States (Berkeley, CA; Seattle, WA; Georgetown, DC) and the world (Helsinki, Finland; Keele, UK; Oxford, England; Padua, Italy).[37]

Pride

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Intact America setting up their double tents on the street at NYC Pridefest in 2022
Intact America tents at NYC Pridefest 2022

Intact America’s outreach includes staffing booths at Pride events. They participated in NYC Pride from 2009 to 2022, Atlanta, Georgia 2023 and 2024,[38] and Indy Pride 2022 and 2023.[39]

Medical Association Conferences

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Georganne Chapin speaking for Intact America protesting at the American Academy of Pediatrics national convention in San Francisco, 2016
Georganne Chapin protesting at the AAP 2016 National Convention

Intact America exhibits or demonstrates at medical organizations’ conferences, including International AIDS Society (2008, 2010, 2011), American Academy of Pediatrics (2011, 2012, 2015,[20] 2016[21]), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2010, 2013), American Medical Student Association (2010), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2009).

Activism

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May 10, 2010, Intact America delivers 25,000 signatures urging the Centers for Disease Control to not recommend neonatal circumcision.[40]

July 1, 2010, Intact America “blasted the American Academy of Pediatrics’ call to legalize a form of female genital cutting.” The AAP’s new policy statement called for doctors to be permitted to perform a “ritual nick” on little girls’ genitals. As a result of the outcry by IA and others, the AAP rescinded their recommendation.[41]

April 25, 2011, Intact America launches the “Put Down the Knife” campaign, collecting and forwarding nearly 100,000 electronic messages to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), demanding that doctors cease circumcising children who cannot consent.[42]

Intact America's mobile billboard protest at ACOG national convention, 2013
Intact America's mobile billboard protest at ACOG national convention, 2013

May 3, 2013, Intact America demonstrates at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) using sidewalk protests and a mobile billboard to convince doctors to stop circumcising newborn boys.[43]

September 30, 2013, Intact America organizes a protest at TriHealth Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio demanding that the hospital discontinue an experiment being conducted on newborn boys, comparing the pain and bleeding resulting from two different circumcision devices. Intact America held a press conference and sponsored a mobile billboard to travel around the city protesting the experiment.[44]

May 29, 2015, Intact America mailed 12,000 letters to American pediatric urologists to both inform them of the dangers of circumcision and warn them of the legal ramifications should they circumcise a Florida boy involved in a court case.[45]

August 16, 2019, Intact America exhibited at the 5th annual three-day International Conference on Men’s Issues held in Chicago.[46]

March 14, 2019, Intact America issued statements concerning the unconstitutionality of bills introduced in California,[47] Connecticut,[48] Iowa,[49] and Washington[50] prohibiting female genital cutting. They claim that these bills violate their state constitution’s equal protection clauses.

Screenshot of the Do No Harm dot report circumcision harm medical complaint filing service
DoNoHarm.report screenshot

September 27, 2024, Intact America launches DoNoHarm.report, a free online service for filing medical complaints. Its purpose is threefold: 1) to assist people in filing complaints against medical staff and hospitals regarding solicitating parents to circumcise their sons; 2) to file these complaints with doctors, hospitals, and regulatory agencies; and 3) to share this information with the media and public.[51]

Surveys

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Intact America regularly conducts consumer and stakeholder surveys. Surveyed are the incidence and prevalence of circumcision, its complications and consequences, and the decisions and attitudes surrounding its execution.[52] Survey findings are publicly available for researchers and authors.[53][8]

Criticism

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Circumcision is a controversial topic and Intact America has been mentioned in allegations of anti-Semitism involving the intactivist movement.[22][23][24] IA has said it would support a ban on U.S. circumcision of minors without a religious exemption on the grounds that every child has a right to bodily integrity.[54] IA’s position on religion states that children’s rights trump parental rights and says it has a zero-tolerance position regarding bigotry.[55]

References

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  1. ^ Sardi, Lauren (2014). "Intactivism". In Kimmel, Michael; Milrod, Christine; Kennedy, Amanda (eds.). Cultural Encyclopedia of the Penis. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 94. ISBN 978-0-7591-2312-0.
  2. ^ Sheehan, Michael (October 11, 2018). "Controversies in Circumcision". In Quallich, Susanne; Lajiness, Michelle; Mitchell, Kenneth (eds.). Manual of men's health: a practice guide for APRNs and PAs. New York: Springer Publishing Company. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-8261-9113-7.
  3. ^ Meddings, Jonathan (October 17, 2022). The Final Cut: The Truth about Circumcision. (self-published). pp. 105–106. ISBN 978-0645368208.
  4. ^ Smith, David (2013), Denniston, George C.; Hodges, Frederick M.; Milos, Marilyn Fayre (eds.), "Genital Autonomy: A New Approach", Genital cutting: Protecting children from medical, cultural, and teligious infringements, Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, p. 332, doi:10.1007/978-94-007-6407-1_22, ISBN 978-94-007-6406-4, retrieved 2024-12-11
  5. ^ Blakinger, Keri (April 14, 2017). "'Intactivists' Oppose Circumcision of Children". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  6. ^ Shelton, Deborah (August 27, 2009). "Under Knife, under Scrutiny". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  7. ^ Collier, Roger (2012-01-10). "Ugly, Messy and Nasty Debate Surrounds Circumcision". Canadian Medical Association Journal. 184 (1): E25–E26. doi:10.1503/cmaj.109-4017. ISSN 0820-3946. PMC 3255195. PMID 22125336.
  8. ^ a b Briggs, Steven (April 24, 2021). "Why Is Circumcision so Common in the U.S.?". Scrubs. Archived from the original on June 20, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  9. ^ Bristol, Nellie (November 26, 2011). "Male Circumcision Debate Flares in the USA". Lancet. PMID 22125802. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  10. ^ Tillotson, Kristin (September 22, 2010). "Circumcision: Age-old Debate Still Going". Seattle Times. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  11. ^ Tea, Kristen (February 22, 2016). "Should Doulas Talk to Mothers about Circumcision?". Mothering. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  12. ^ Mack, Lindsay (July 25, 2016). "Is Circumcision Healthy? There Are Pros & Cons". Romper. Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  13. ^ Rabin, Roni (August 22, 2011). "Circumcise or Don't? Quandary for Parents". New York Times. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  14. ^ Elliot, Danielle (August 22, 2013). "Circumcision Rates Declining, Especially in Western States". CBS News. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  15. ^ Jeffries, Stuart (May 6, 2023). "And, Cut! What it Was Like Being Circumcised in My 60s". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 14, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  16. ^ Rabin, Roni (December 2, 2014). "Circumcision Guidelines Target Teenagers". New York Times. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  17. ^ "Mother Agrees to Son's Circumcision in Exchange for Release from Florida Jail". The Guardian. May 22, 2015. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  18. ^ Oglesby, Adrienne (April 28, 2022). "North Dakota Mom Advocating for Medical Rights after 3-year-old's Foreskin Was Forcibly Retracted". KXNET-TV. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  19. ^ Schute, Nancy (December 3, 2014). "CDC Considers Counseling Males of All Ages on Circumcision". NPR. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Walker, Molly (October 26, 2015). "Protesters to AAP: No More Circumcision!". Medpage Today. Archived from the original on June 16, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  21. ^ a b Nahmod, David-Elijah (October 27, 2016). "Activists remember Conte, try to deliver petitions to AAP". Bay Area Reporter. p. 11.
  22. ^ a b Ungar-Sargon, Eliyahu (May 16, 2022). "How to Deradicalize a Movement". Jewschool. Archived from the original on November 25, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  23. ^ a b JABEN-EILON, JAN (April 13, 2011). "Challenging the Circumcision Myth". Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  24. ^ a b Leiter, Hayim (March 22, 2019). "Brit Milah is under Attack". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  25. ^ Chapin, Georganne (July 7, 2016). "5 Reasons Why LBGTQ Supporters 'Get' Intactivism". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  26. ^ Nunn, Gary (July 20, 2019). "Foreskin Reclaimers: The 'Intactivists' Fighting Infant Male Circumcision". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  27. ^ Galavis, José Ángel (February 23, 2023). "Circuncisiones forzosas en EEUU: ¿procedimiento estético o preventivo?". Telemundo Utah. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  28. ^ Audenino, Abby (October 1, 2024). "Alan Cumming performs his cabaret show "UNCUT" at the Stissing Center". Main Street Mag. Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  29. ^ Levine, Jon (January 9, 2021). "Andrew Yang's anti-circumcision stance cuts deep: Jewish leaders". New York Post. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  30. ^ Adler, Peter (August 7, 2022). Circumcision Is a Fraud: And the Coming Legal Reckoning. (self-pubished). p. 18. ASIN B0B92CRHDC.
  31. ^ "National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers". NOCIRC. June 28, 1997. Archived from the original on November 16, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  32. ^ Allan, Jonathan (November 5, 2024). Uncut: A Cultural Analysis of the Foreskin (The Exquisite Corpse). University of Regina Press. p. 266. ISBN 978-1779400314.
  33. ^ "Intact America, Inc". Guidestar. September 1, 2024. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  34. ^ "Happy Foreskin Day". ONE Condoms. December 15, 2024. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  35. ^ "International Symposia on Circumcision". NOCIRC Symposiums. November 1, 2024. Archived from the original on July 19, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  36. ^ "Intact 2022 – 16th Int'l Conference on Child Genital Cutting". Intact America. August 1, 2022.
  37. ^ "International symposia". GA America. December 12, 2023. Archived from the original on July 20, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  38. ^ "ONE® Condoms Joins Intact America to Show Its Foreskin Pride at Atlanta Pride October 12-13". Intact America. October 11, 2024. Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  39. ^ "We are Proud of Pride!". Intact America. October 10, 2024. Archived from the original on December 16, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  40. ^ "Intact America delivers petition to CDC with more than 25,000 signatures". Intact America. May 12, 2010. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  41. ^ "Intact America blasts AAP's call to weaken FGM ban". Intact America. May 6, 2010. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  42. ^ "Intact America tells doctors to put down the knife". Intact America. April 25, 2011. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  43. ^ "Intactivist call on obstetrician's meeting in New Orleans to stop cutting baby boys". Intact America. May 2, 2013. Archived from the original on December 14, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  44. ^ "Intact America protests Good Samaritan Hospital's experimentation on healthy baby boys". Intact America. September 30, 2013. Archived from the original on December 14, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  45. ^ "12,000 Pediatric Urologists warned!". Intact America. May 29, 2015. Archived from the original on December 14, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  46. ^ "ICMI19". Wiki4men. July 12, 2024. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  47. ^ "California's Pending Child Protection Legislation: Unconstitutional!". Intact America. March 14, 2019. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  48. ^ "Connecticut's Pending Child Protection Legislation: Unconstitutional!". Intact America. March 14, 2019. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  49. ^ "Iowa's Pending Child Protection Legislation: Unconstitutional!". Intact America. March 14, 2024. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  50. ^ "Washington's Pending Child Protection Legislation: Unconstitutional!". Intact America. March 17, 2019. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  51. ^ "Intact America Rolls Out DoNoHarm.report, a Free Service to Help Consumers Report Circumcision Complications and Related Injuries". Intact America. September 27, 2024. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  52. ^ "Surveys". Intact America. September 28, 2024. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  53. ^ Lipman, Kenneth (October 14, 2024). Circumcision: How an Ancient Ritual Became a Questionable Surgery—A Complete Analysis. Akiva Press. pp. 134 & 147. ISBN 979-8990333703.
  54. ^ "The Problem with a Religious Exemption to an Anti-Circumcision Ban". Intact America. December 6, 2011. Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  55. ^ "Positions". Intact America. November 15, 2024. Archived from the original on December 8, 2024. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
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