Date: Sat, 23 Aug 1997 10:11:03 -0400 From: Riki Anne Wilchins Subject: HERM-PROTEST OF JOCELYN ELDERS AT LESBIAN EVENT MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Cheryl Chase (415)575-3885, CChase@ISNA.Org HERM-PROTEST OF JOCELYN ELDERS AT LESBIAN EVENT =============================================== [Washington, DC: 20 Sep 97] THE ACTIVIST GROUPS HERMAPHRODITES WITH ATTITUDE (HWA) and Transexual Menace today protested Dr. Jocelyn Elders' keynote address to a Mautner Lesbians With Cancer Project fund-raiser, held in the Washington Hilton. Dr. Elders, a former US Surgeon General, is an outspoken advocate of Intersex Genital Mutilation (IGM), a cosmetic surgery performed on the genitals of intersexed infants so they will look like "normal" males and females. Eight demonstrators carried banners saying "Dr. Elders: Keep Your Scalpels OFF Our Bodies" and "Intersex Kids Need Counseling NOT Cutting", and distributed IGM leaflets to attendees as they arrived for the $100-a-plate dinner. [Flier Text Follows] Several attendees expressed shock and dismay upon learning of Dr. Elders' position, noting that she is generally considered a supporter of lesbian and feminist causes, and enlightened on most matters of adolescent sexuality. However, the flier noted that on "correcting" queer genitals, Dr. Elders has written: "...just take out everything and make a good vaginal pouch and the child can function very well as a female," and "I always told my students, I can make a good female, but it's very hard to make a male." "We're not protesting the Mautner Project," explained HWA founder, Cheryl Chase, "we're calling attention to Dr. Elders' support of IGM and her continued refusal to meet with us on an issue that affects our lives. One reason IGM is performed is the fear that girls born with clitorises considered 'too large' will grow up to be masculine or lesbian. We want to bring awareness to the Lesbian and Gay community that IGM is a queer issue." Although intersexuality was once considered rare, according to noted Brown University medical researcher Dr. Anne Fausto-Sterling, about 8 intersex children are genitally cut in US hospitals every working day for cosmetic reasons. Stated Chase, "We will continue to seek a meeting with Dr. Elders, and anticipate that once she takes IGM seriously, she will support out position." Following the demonstration, HWA and the Menace donated a $100 to the Mautner Project in the name of intersexed infants. [Flier text starts] JOCELYN ELDERS SUPPORTS INTERSEX* GENITAL MUTILATION (IGM) (* a Hermaphrodite; someone whose genitals are not clearly male or female) US HOSPITALS GENITALLY CUT 8 INTERSEXED KIDS EVERY DAY JUST SO THEIR GENITALS WILL LOOK "NORMAL." MOST WILL LOSE GENITAL SENSATION. MANY ARE CUT SO THEY WON'T "BECOME LESBIANS." JOCELYN ELDERS SUPPORTS THIS PRACTICE! DID YOU KNOW? The vast majority of children diagnosed as intersexed by American doctors and genitally cut are otherwise unremarkable infants who simply have clitorises more than 3/8" long. Many are genitally cut in the mistaken belief that otherwise they may grow up to be masculinized, lesbian women or have difficulty functioning as "normal, heterosexual adults" later in life. DID YOU KNOW? According to noted Brown University medical researcher Dr. Anne Fausto-Sterling, 2,000 intersex infants are genitally cut for cosmetic reasons in US hospitals annually: that's 8 infants from 3 weeks to 3 years old cut every working day. Yet the American Academy of Pediatricians' own statement on IGM says these infants are genitally cut to minimize "emotional, cognitive, and body image" problems and not for any medical reason. DID YOU KNOW? Jocelyn Elders on intersexed infants and "correcting" queer genitals: "...just take out everything and make a good vaginal pouch and the child can function very well as a female." "I always told my students, 'I can make a good female, but it's very hard to make a male.'" Ever hear of informed consent? Dr. Elders refuses to even meet with the intersexed community or IGM survivors. Intersex kids need counseling, not cutting! HEY DR. ELDERS: GET YOUR SCALPELS OFF OUR BODIES!!! We're not quiet. We're not well-behaved. And we're not going away. (A public service announcement from your local chapter of Hermaphrodites With Attitude 415-575-3885.) [Flier text ends] ### Online Editor: Riki Wilchins, Riki@Gpac.Org Subscriptions. Please send: Subscribe iyf-online OR Unsubscribe iyf-online TO MajorDomo@Apocalypse.Org For prior press releases, check the GenderPAC web site at: http://WWW.Gpac.Org (c) 1997 InYourFace An on-line, news-only service for gender activism. When re-posting, please credit InYourFace.