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Lloyd Schofield, and his supporters, have until April 26 to gather 7,200 valid signatures to ban male circumcision under age 18. Their website is www.sfmgmbill.org.
The measure would make it “unlawful to … to circumcise, excise, cut, or mutilate the whole or any part of the foreskin, testicles, or penis of another person who has not attained the age of 18 years.”
Violators of the ordinance would be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, if convicted, could face a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
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Given the large Jewish and Muslim population of San Francisco, one might ask if this is intended as a budget measure. Apparently that is not the case. Schofield is a member of the Bay Area Intactivists, a group he joined after watching them marching in the Gay Pride Parade. The Intactivists see removal of the foreskin as a violation of male rights, in much the same way as the straight community of America has made female circumcision a federal offense.
Schofield argues that since female genital mutilation was banned under federal law in 1996, practicing male circumcision violates the equal protection clause and the new law will be constitutional.
So who is Schofield? His Facebook page notes he’s a fan of “The WHOLE Network”, “Bring Back Saving Penises” and “Catholics Against Circumcision.”
Lewis Black, a circumcised (reportedly) comic, says:
“Apparently, you can leave your heart in San Francisco, but your foreskin is going home with you!”
Schofield said he expects to surpass the 7200 signatures before the deadline.
Looking at the demographics of San Francisco and the fairly large crowd they should be able to gather enough signatures though the coronavirus emergency may prevent this as it is impacting politics in brutal and subtle ways. This could become law and there is an equal protection issue since female circumcision while never as common is done in large part to religious traditions.
There certainly would be a challenge as the practice is a core belief of two major religious sects, and rather popular with Catholics and protestants many of whom cannot decide if Christian men should or should not be circumcised or id the practice should be followed, but many practice it. How many males at 18 would become circumcised could be a challenge to two major religions….and what fun could Mel Brooks have with this as one character he created is always ready for a brisk.