Finally, it’s religious people who are being oppressed by an angry, politically motivated mob, offering their freedoms up to a public vote. After decades of gays and lesbians suffering through second class citizenship and in some cases having their previously obtained rights stripped away, the gayest city in the country is now turning the tables and placing freedom of religion on the ballot. Unfortunately, it’s the wrong religion, ironically targeting the most pro-gay equality major faith in the world, as opposed to targetting the anti-gay conservative Evangelicals, Mormons, and Catholics who are the most destructive forces against gay rights. The proposed San Francisco legislation that would criminalize parents having their sons circumcised is just more anti-Semitic hatred, once again disguised as “human rights.”
If the only people affected by a proposed ban on circumcision were anti-gay religious extremists, the ban would still be immoral, but at least there would be a great irony in such a gay city finally getting back at religion. But most Jews are not Orthodox (the smallest and only anti-gay version of Judaism,) and are actually disproportionally involved in gay rights; plus Conservative and Reform Judaism are leaders in gay-straight equality among the Abrahamic faiths.
The man behind the anti-Jewish ban is Lloyd Schofield (you don’t get any points for guessing he'd be Jewish.) He compares the removal of the foreskin with other religions’ rituals of female circumcision, the barbarous mutilation of a woman’s clitoris that’s designed to remove her pleasure during sex, a brutal act with no male equivalent. Rabbis and imams have invited Schofield to debate circumcision, and he refuses because he knows his claims are ridiculous.
Circumcision is not mutilation of the penis; it’s the simple removal of the foreskin. Medical and science journals prove that circumcision is the second best protection against the transmission of HIV after condoms. The British Medical Journal reports that circumcised men are eight times less likely to contract HIV. It’s been proven that circumcision removes Langerhans cells in the foreskin and reduces the transmission of many other STDs including genital herpes and syphilis, not to mention genital warts. Circumcision reduces cervical cancer in women who have sex with cut men. Circumcised men have 100% immunity from penile cancer.
Beyond health and hygiene, though, circumcision is an ancient practice in both Judaism and Islam. For believing Jews, it’s the most sacred symbol of the covenant between God and Jewish men. And that’s the real reason liberals are trying to ban the practice. Jews in San Francisco could now face up to a year in prison and a fine of $1,000 just for practicing their religion.
Aside from Jews and Muslims who circumcise their sons for largely spiritual and cultural reasons, everyone else is affected too. The above mentioned benefits to circumcision have urged non-Jews and non-Muslims to circumcise their sons, and it's a common practice in the U.S. and increasingly in Europe as well.
A city so world renowned for tolerance should never punish anyone for her religious or cultural beliefs or tell citizens of any faith how to raise their kids. Especially when the practice is not only proven to be not harmful but actually beneficial. If you're against circumcision, practice your freedom of choice on your own sons.
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