Australians: URGENT! Your chance to change the law on circumcision!

[napletek]

The Tasmanian Law Reform Institute is calling urgently for responses from Australian men who have been circumcised or affected by circumcision in considering whether it should alter the law as it currently stands on male circumcision.

The Institute, which recommends changes in the law to the Tasmanian Parliament, has written an "Issues Paper" on male circumcision. This is at the following link:

http://www.law.utas.edu.au/reform/

(Click on "Male Circumcision" on the right hand side panel of the site)

It is now asking for responses. This is the first time in 16 years that any Australian State has considered a change in the law. So it's essential that anyone who feels dissatisfied with having been circumcised as a child or adult speaks up NOW. The pro-circ lobby is always saying "Hardly anyone complains". Show them that's not true. Say now what you couldn't say then: NO.

It doesn't have to be anything academic or long. Just how you feel about having been subjected to circumcision and how it's affected your life. Send comments to this email address now:

law.reform@utas.edu.au

Deadline closes 28 August 2009. Don't lose your chance to stop circumcision in Australia!

[Stretchalot]

I may be mistaken, but I believe anyone (individual or organisation) can make a submission. The 'how to respond' section from the issues paper is below, and it does not limit responses to Australians.

This really is important. Please take the time to make a submission - however short. Make your voice heard and speak out on behalf of tomorrow's children!

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The TLRI invites responses to the issues discussed in this Issues Paper. This Issues Paper does not express the final views of the TLRI. Options for action are set out in Part 9. A list of questions is set out in Part 10 of this Issues Paper. The questions are intended as a guide only you may choose to answer all, some or none of them. When responding to this Issues Paper please explain the reasons for your views as fully as possible. It is intended that responses will be published on our website, and may be referred to or quoted from in a final report. If you do not wish your response to be published, or you wish it to be anonymous, simply say so, and the Institute will respect that wish. After considering all responses, it is intended that a final report, containing recommendations, will be published.

Responses should be made in writing by the 28th August 2009. If possible, responses should be sent by email to: law.reform@utas.edu.au

http://www.law.utas.edu.au/reform/documents/CircumcisionIssuesPaperA4toPrint.pdf

[admin]

Well I'm not australian

Paul Mason has been quoted as saying comments are welcomed from anyone.

-Ron

[napletek]

Thanks for that correction Ron, stretchalot and Mrrestoreuk! I hope you all are writing in!

Excellent news. The Tasmanians need as many constructive, pro-intact views as possible. And they need to hear the voice of those whose voice was not listened to at birth. Even a short email is acceptable.

(PS - For your contribution to be acceptable, give your full and correct name when you write to the Institute - like most public bodies, anonymous entries are considered with suspicion, if at all. The Institute indicates that it will preserve confidentiality should any person so desire, so if you wish to remain anonymous give your correct name but then indicate that that must remain private.)

[Someone mundane]

I sent a message to them...

[Tormod - IRL]

Brief, and personal, statement submitted from here.

[Quark]

i sent a message to them. I wanted to focus on the psychological ramifications rather than the multitude of facts that are already available.

Since I never introduced myself when I was new to these forums I decided to share the letter I wrote.


Dear Sir or Madam,

I would like to thank the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute for conducting this Issues Paper on male circumcision and for allowing the people of Australia to express their opinions and feelings.

I was twelve years old when I realized I was a minority among my peers and that this was the result of something that had been done to me without my consent or medical necessity.

Not long after that my mother, to my humiliation, pointed out the place I was circumcised to a family friend. It was then that it truly hit home that being circumcised was unusual.

Until my early twenties, I was unaware of how much physical damage circumcision causes. The more I read about the damage, the more feelings of anger, betrayal and resentment towards my parents overwhelmed me into many months of depression and anti-social behaviour.

I began to believe that my parents had thought of me as imperfect. They were no longer my parents, but my architects’ who designed a better son.

To help me come to terms with these feelings, I have been receiving guidance from a psychologist over the past eight months. Although I have made much progress with working through my feelings, I feel that I’ll never truly heal the emotional scars, let alone the physical ones.

I hope that within my lifetime, we can see an end to the mutilation of those that are unable to say no.

If even one man is unhappy about having his genitalia being altered without his consent, is it ethical to continue this physically and psychologically harmful practice?

I am more than happy for you publish my comments in the report, however I would like to request that my identity remain protected.


Kind regards