INTACTIVIST OF THE MONTH ARCHIVE
One of Intact America's greatest strengths is the diverse and supportive intactivist community. Our "Intactivist of the Month" series highlights some of the most ardent opponents of infant and childhood circumcision, whose tireless efforts will ensure a future where all babies are kept intact. Below is a list of all the intactivists we have featured as Intactivist of the Month.
APRIL/MAY 2012: This Mother's Day, as we honor the women, mothers, and grandmothers who have impacted our lives, Intact America celebrates the "founding mother" of the intactivist movement—Marilyn Milos, RN. Thanks to Marilyn's vision, passion, dedication, and leadership, thousands upon thousands of people across the country have found the courage to stand up for the rights of newborn children; countless babies have been spared the knife; and parents, doctors, and medical professionals are finally realizing that an intact penis is a normal penis. Read more >>
MARCH 2012: Dr. Robert Van Howe, pediatrician and passionate advocate for children’s rights, is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Dr. Van Howe is an expert on circumcision, speaks frequently on that topic, and has published numerous articles and studies, including last year's "How the Circumcision Solution in Africa Will Increase HIV Infections." Read more >>
FEBRUARY 2012: John Geisheker, J.D., LL.M., is the Executive Director and General Counsel of Doctors Opposing Circumcision, an international non-profit organization based in Seattle, Washington. John appears at medical, childbirth, and human rights conventions, presenting on the medical science, bioethics, and dubious legality of infant genital cutting. Read more >>
JANUARY 2012: Dr. Mark Reiss, a 77-year-old retired physician and renowned concert pianist, is a dedicated intactivist who has made a special contribution within the American Jewish community. Mark has been an active proponent of keeping baby boys intact since 1999. Read more >>
DECEMBER 2011: Lauren Jenks, proud intactivist and founder of The WHOLE Network, didn’t become aware of the issues surrounding circumcision until she became pregnant with her first child, a boy. “I didn’t think about it much until about 2 months before his due date. The thought of any painful procedure made my head spin.” Read more >>
NOVEMBER 2011: As a Jewish woman, Miriam Pollack was often invited by friends to their sons’ brit milah ceremonies, and found them increasingly disturbing. After meeting Marilyn Milos in 1991, she realized that, in her words, "My entire maternal wisdom had been keening underneath the very powerful mantel of the religion and culture that I loved: Judaism." Read more >>
OCTOBER 2011: Intactivist Dan Bollinger is one of the most prominent intactivists in the movement today. Director of the International Coalition of Genital Integrity (ICGI), Dan writes press releases, publishes scientific studies, provides insight and direction, and attends conferences. He is tireless in his efforts to end the practice of infant circumcision. Read more >>
SEPTEMBER 2011: Filmmaker Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon's documentary Cut: Slicing Through the Myths of Circumcision takes a powerful look at the practice of infant circumcision from a uniquely Jewish perspective. The film is currently on tour throughout the United States. Read more >>
AUGUST 2011: Shelton Walden is a media producer, videographer, radio host and long-time intactivist, donating hisShelton Walden time and skills to helping Intact America in its efforts to reach the public with the message that circumcision is harmful and wrong. Read more >>
JULY 2011: Leonard Glick, MD, PhD, is a cultural anthropologist with a medical degree and author of Marked in Your Flesh: Circumcision from Ancient Judea to Modern America. He is also one of the most outspoken intactivists in the movement to end the ritual cutting of baby boys. Read more >>
JUNE 2011: Gillian Longley, a neonatal nurse and devoted intactivist, has been co-coordinator of the Colorado chapter of the National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers (NOCIRC) since 2005, and is a member of Intact America’s Board of Health Professionals. Read more >>
MAY 2011: Shawn Jenks: One of the most common arguments in favor of circumcision is "I want my son to look like his father." But that argument makes no sense! Dad, if you were missing a hand, would you ask a doctor to cut off your baby’s hand? Read more >>
APRIL 2011: Penn Jillette, the talkative half of the famous magic/comedy/illusion duo Penn & Teller, is a staunch supporter of the right of baby boys to genital integrity. He has spoken out against circumcision very publicy, both in his television show "Bullshit!" (which includes an interview with NOCIRC founder Marilyn Milos), as well as in his video channel, Penn Says. Read more >>
MARCH 2011: David Wilson: This year marks the 18th anniversary of Genital Integrity Awareness Week, which takes place from March 28-April 3. Every year, intactivists from all over the country travel to Washington to march on the Capitol in defense of babies' rights—and David Wilson is the driving force behind this effort. Read more >>
FEBRUARY 2011: Van Lewis: Right now, everyone is talking about circumcision. But when Van Lewis started protesting circumcision forty years ago, he was arrested and jailed for peacefully demonstrating with his brother Ben on the public sidewalk outside a hospital in Tallahassee, Florida. Van is revered within the intactivist community. Read more >>
JANUARY 2011: Dr. Michelle Storms, a family physician and mother of three, is an outspoken proponent of genital integrity. She witnessed her first circumcision while in her residency in Milwaukee. “I was appalled,” she says. “The baby writhed and screamed while being strapped down and cut.” The feeling of repulsion never went away. Read more >>
DECEMBER 2010: Amy Callan is one of the main forces behind Intact America, but she wasn't always an intactivist. "I began working with Georganne Chapin several years ago when I joined her staff at Hudson Health Plan," she explains. "When Georganne asked me to help manage her new campaign to stop infant circumcision, I realized I'd never really thought about the issue before." Read more >>
NOVEMBER 2010: Martha Roth, an activist and midwife from Nyack, New York, says she doesn't deliver babies; rather, she "catches them." As a firm believer that, whenever possible, babies should be born at home, Martha has helped mothers bring more than 500 babies into the world. Martha’s non-interventionist caregiving philosophy extends to keeping infant boys intact. Read more >>
OCTOBER 2010: Adrian Colesberry, author of the hilarious, critically acclaimed How to Make Love to Adrian Colesberry, was one of the first people to join Intact America's Board of Advocates. A staunch supporter of the fight to end male circumcision, Adrian writes about the issue frequently on his blog. Read more >>
SEPTEMBER 2010: Amber Craig, Director of NOCIRC North Carolina, is one of the most influential people in the intactivist movement. She has spent the last two decades educating people about the risks and harms of circumcision. Amber was involved in the creation of Intact America, and she serves on the organization's Steering Committee. Read more >>
