Georgia House Bans Genital Piercings

[judecorp]

ATLANTA (AP) -- Genital piercings for women were banned by the Georgia House Wednesday as lawmakers considered a bill outlining punishments for female genital mutilation.

The bill would make such mutilation punishable by two to 20 years in prison. It makes no exception for people who give consent to have the procedure performed on their daughters out of religious or cultural custom.

An amendment adopted without objection added "piercing" to the list of things that may not be done to female genitals. Even adult women would not be allowed to get the procedure. The bill eventually passed 160-0, with no debate.

Amendment sponsor Rep. Bill Heath, R-Bremen, was slack-jawed when told after the vote that some adults seek the piercings.

"What? I've never seen such a thing," Heath said. "I, uh, I wouldn't approve of anyone doing it. I don't think that's an appropriate thing to be doing."

The ban applies only to women, not men. The bill has already been approved by the Senate but now must return to that chamber because of the piercing amendment. Both chambers of the Legislature must agree on a single version of a bill before it can go to the governor for final approval.

Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Discuss.

Comments

[hazelpeach.livejournal.com]

Dude. I love your usericon. May I swipe it?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Sure. Just credit reveries, because it's hers. :)

[maybelater.livejournal.com]

It's more disturbing because of the cultural implications of trying to ban female genital surgeries (or "genital mutilation" as it's called in the article). Regardless of the western ideas about it, GS is a rite of passage for entering adulthood for a lot of diasporic immigrant communities. This is not to say that I support the practice, because it is pretty awful, but you can't just go banning it...

I think it's akin to banning the veil, which is currently happening in France--though in Georgia, a senator was quoted as referring to the turbans that Seikhs wear as "head diapers" or something ridiculously similar.

ugh.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

It makes no exception for people who give consent to have the procedure performed on their daughters out of religious or cultural custom.

Regardless of the western ideas about it, GS is a rite of passage for entering adulthood for a lot of diasporic immigrant communities. This is not to say that I support the practice, because it is pretty awful, but you can't just go banning it...

Sure you can. I wouldn't have wanted my parents making decisions about my genitals when I was 12 going on 13. I'm also against circumcision for the same reasons. I don't really care if it's mutilation chosen by Jewish parents as a sign of being the chosen race, or if it's chosen by anyone else for so-called 'cleanliness' issues.

That said, I don't particularly want the government making decisions about my genitals, either.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Can I make decisions about your genitals?

[thespian.livejournal.com]

dude, I've been waiting for that offer for *years*...

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Reeeee-ow!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

But at the same time, the US "bans" other things that could be seen as cultural and yet are believed to be harmful to people (especially children).

For example, here in Columbus we have a fairly large Somali immigrant population. Harsh physical discipline is common in a lot of these homes, to the level that is considered physical abuse in Ohio. Even though this discipline practice is cultural, and may be accepted in other countries, it is not allowed here.

Similarly, it is a person's religious right to refuse medical treatment, and to some extent it is that person's religious right to refuse treatment on behalf of his/her child. But in several "life-or-death" situations, courts have intervened and required caregivers to seek the medical interventions for their children, or have taken custody for a short time, got the treatments, and returned the children.

I'm sure there are other examples, but that's about all I can think of right now. Personally, I am not in favor of any sort of genital surgery (male and female "circumcision" alike).

[lemur68.livejournal.com]

Amendment sponsor Rep. Bill Heath, R-Bremen, was slack-jawed when shown some pictures of vaginas with piercings.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

*giggle*

[oxlahun.livejournal.com]

You've obviously never been to Bremen. :)

I have family there. lorac probably does too, whether she knows it or not. For that matter, she and I are probably cousins.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

But I've been to LaGrange, and the cats sure are nice there!!

[dch4.livejournal.com]

Tee hee.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

BWAHAHAHA!!

[poopsmoothie.livejournal.com]

That's hilarious and terrible at once.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I know. I really know what you mean. (I think.) :)

[sudrin.livejournal.com]

My understanding of this was that it was done to prevent "Genital Mutilation" sorts of acts. (such as female castration) Of course, as with many things, it ends up getting it wrong in the end and only helps to muddy the waters about what people can and cant do given consent. Eventually I'm sure we will all have to stay at our houses with our doors locked and our little Aluminum Foil hats on or else we will become convicted felons in our new Victorian Age.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I want a tin foil hat! :)

And you're right, it was to prevent "genital mutilation," but why the heck is piercing in there?

I think it's funny that the legislators were so shocked that people do that.

[photodork.livejournal.com]

im glad i got my pa done then before they outlaw them for men also. i mean, i wouldnt want to be arrested while visiting ya'll in the usa :)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Ha! I WOULD TURN YOU IN!!