[33] The Cut Podcast: A New Sexual Revolution

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[19] The Cut Podcast: The Psychological Consequences of Circumcision

Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon conversed with Dr. Ronald Goldman, a psychologist and published Intactivist, about the psychological consequences surrounding the practice of circumcision. Here is the recording.

Transcript
(slightly modified)

Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon

From the White Letter Productions studios in Los Angeles, California, I'm [Eliyahu] Ungar-Sargon, and this is The Cut Podcast.

Welcome to another special edition of The Cut Podcast; I'm very happy to be sitting here with Ronald Goldman, and we're going to be having a conversation today about some of the psychological aspects of infant male circumcision.

This is a field [into which] I've been a little wary to wade; I think when I talk to people who don't necessarily agree with my position on this subject, I find it much easier to talk about things like Meissner's corpuscles—the hard scientific stuff [to which] I can just sort of point, [and for which] we have hard data; my impressions—and I would love to get your reaction and your opinion about this—is that when it comes to the psychological data, just by virtue of where we are in our understanding of the human brain and the human mind, it's a little trickier to get hard data on these questions. Is that right? or is this a misperception [that I have]?

Ronald Goldman

Well, I agree with you; part of the problem is there's a resistance to doing these kinds of [study]. Most of the researchers who do the studies on circumcision are looking for benefits, not potential harm. They happen to be medical doctors for the most part, so they're starting with what they're familiar with, which is the physical body. Studying behavior is a lot more complicated. You can't so much put it in a box and put it under a microscope [to examine] it that way. So, human behavior requires a different kind of research, and we haven't had the will to do that for the most part.

Dr. John Warren: Awakening to the Damage of Circumcision and the Value of Foreskin

Dr. John Warren (MB, BChir, DCH, FRCP), founder of NORM-UK, discusses his personal discoveries regarding:

• The harm of Circumcision
• Foreskin “restoration”
• The movement to protect the genital integrity of all children.

Paul Mason: Male Circumcision is increasingly being recognized as a Violation of Rights

Paul Mason, Family & Children's Lawyer (and Former Commissioner for Children of Tasmania), discusses children's right to bodily integrity and the context of that right in the history of social progress.

[10] The Cut Podcast: David Llewellyn: the Harm of Circumcision is Hidden because the genitals are hidden

Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon, the director of the documentary film Cut, interviews lawyer David Llewellyn about the legality of forced male circumcision, genital-injury cases, and his motivations for taking part in the Intactivist Movement. Here is the recording.

Transcript
(slightly modified)

Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon

From the White Letter Productions studios in Los Angeles, California, I'm [Eliyahu] Ungar-Sargon, and this is The Cut Podcast.

I'm sitting here now with David Llewellyn, so thank you so much for joining us. Why don't we jump off by having you explain to our audience what it is you do.

David Llewellyn

Well, I'm a trial lawyer in Atlanta, GA, and the majority of my work is now—and has been for several years—in the area of genital injury litigation, by which I mean cases where [men or babies] have been damaged by circumcision or circumcised against their or their parents' wishes—and I know that sounds strange, but I've actually had a case where an adult [who was] having other genital surgery was assured that he would retain his foreskin and did not because of a mistake (apparently on the part of the resident, who did not know how to do this surgery without removing the foreskin).

Zenas Baer: the Medical System and the Judiciary ignore the illegality of Circumcision

Zenas Baer (J.D.) discusses the events that led him to study the legal issues surrounding the circumcision of children.

Peter Adler: Circumcision is illegal under any aspect of law

Peter Adler discusses the events that led to his Intactivism from the aspect of legality.

[09] The Cut Podcast: The Effects of Circumcision on Sexuality

On Tuesday, September 13, 2011, this recording was made of a conversation between Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon and Aubrey Taylor, whose intactivist work can be viewed at the YouTube channel whatUneverknew.

Transcript
(slightly modified)

Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon:

From the White Letter Productions studios in Los Angeles, California, I'm [Eliyahu] Ungar-Sargon, and this is The Cut Podcast.

I'm sitting here with Aubrey Taylor in Atlanta, Georgia. Aubrey was responsible for organizing the Atlanta leg of The Cut Tour, and she's a very prominent intactivist in her own right.

So, I just thought it would be a really good opportunity to talk to you about some aspects of this issue that don't often get talked about, and I think you're a very interesting person to provide that perspective.

So, why don't we start with you explain[ing] to our audience how you came [to be involved in] this issue, because I find your story to be very interesting and different.

Aubrey Taylor

Of course, you can watch my video (I Love Foreskin), and hear my story there.

I just always intuitively knew [that something about circumcision is bizarre], and then one day when I was about 20 [years old], I found out how [boys actually get circumcised] and the whole reality came crashing in.

Aubrey Taylor: a Circumcised Penis means Circumcised Sex

Aubrey Taylor is an intactivist based in Atlanta, Georgia. She runs the YouTube channel whatUneverknew.

In the following video, Aubrey expresses the fact that circumcision can diminish the quality of sexual intimacy for both partners, and that plenty of women love foreskin—even in cultures where circumcision is currently prevalent (like in Aubrey's country, the United States).

She continues this conversation with Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon.

[05] The Cut Tour: Austin, Texas Q&A with Janet Heimlich

On Wednesday, 7 September 2011, this recording was made of the Q&A after the Austin, Texas screening of the film Cut by Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon. Eliyahu was joined by Janet Heimlich, author of:

Breaking Their Will: Shedding Light on Religious Child Maltreatment

David Wilton: Opportunists exploit African suffering

David Wilton has participated in intactivist events in the U.S. and abroad. Through his Male Circumcision and HIV blog and twitter account, David acts as a major conduit of information to help keep intactivists organized and knowledgeable.

SeanMichael Rau: The deep and hurtful impact of circumcision

The transcript doesn't do justice to SeanMichael Rau's powerful testimony to the deep and hurtful impact that circumcision can cause.

Jonathon Conte: Channeling painful emotions into Intactivism

Jonathon Conte has dealt with painful emotions ever since he discovered that he was circumcised. He moved to San Francisco, California, and became an active member of the Bay Area Intactivists.

Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon: Culture is Changing

Independent filmmaker Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon discusses the experiences that informed his film:

Cut: Slicing Through the Myths of Circumcision

Van Lewis: Sex criminals for hire? Inquire within…

On December 17, 1970, Van Lewis made history when he and his younger brother, Ben, were arrested for demonstrating at:

Tallahassee Memorial Hospital

On the 40-year anniversary of their historic protest, Lewis planned to protest again on December 17, 2010 to remind us that human rights begin with respect for genital integrity.

(Also, see here for more information about George Wald).

Circumcision: The Big Transparent Lie

Harry Guiremand speaks candidly of his personal discoveries about circumcision and his efforts to bring evidence of its harm to the discussion.

Steven Svoboda: sexually-transmitted HIV occurs to adults

J. Steven Svoboda, founder and executive director of:

Attorneys for the Rights of the Child

discusses the curious medical history of circumcision, and the recent attempts by circumcision proponents [to rationalize circumcision as a solution] to HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Leonard B. Glick: Cultures Change

Jewish American scholar, Leonard Glick, speaks of his life, his academic career, his research on the history of circumcision, and his views on intactivism.

Georgeanne Chapin: The beginning of Intact America and the common sense of Intactivism

Georganne Chapin (MPhil, JD) discusses her first awareness of male circumcision and the events leading to her becoming Executive Director of Intact America.

Chapin also talks about the curious policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

Ritual Genital Cutting of Female Minors

published on 2010 April 26 (the AAP has since rescinded that statement).

Dr. James Snyder: Routine circumcision is a Medical Disaster

James L. Snyder (M.D., F.A.C.S.), Past President of the Virginia Urological Society, discusses the controversy around infant circumcision. This conversation was recorded in San Francisco, California on 2010 July 29.

Dr. Dean Edell: Circumcision is inappropriate in general, especially to prevent HIV/AIDS

Dr. Dean Edell, who hosted the syndicated Dr. Dean Edell radio program, discusses the absurdity of circumcision.

Miriam Pollack: Jewish Mother on Circumcision and Jewish Identity

Miriam Pollack, a Jewish mother and feminist and longtime intactivist, encourages fellow members of the Jewish community to give serious consideration to the issue of circumcision and to welcoming their boys into the world with love instead of pain.

Penile and Foreskin Neurology: Circumcision is quite damaging

Ken McGrath discusses his research into the neural anatomy of the human penis and the physical damages caused by circumcision. He is:

• A Senior Lecturer in Pathology at the Faculty of Health, Auckland Uni­versity of Technology

• A member of the New Zealand Institute of Medical Laboratory Scientists.

• Author of The Frenular Delta: A New Preputial Structure, published in:

  Understanding Circumcision: A Multi‑Disciplinary Approach to a Multi-Dimensional Problem, Proceedings of the Sixth International Symposium on Genital Integrity: Safeguarding Fundamental Human Rights in the 21st Century, held 2000 December 7–9 in Sydney, Australia.