Slogan for Pride Parade ?

[TLCTugger]

Hi,
I run a foreskin restoration devices business for circumcised males, and I'm also an active advocate of genital integrity for all.

I have secured an entry in Chicago's upcoming Pride Parade (June 29th, noon).

First of all, if you can join us, I'd be delighted to meet one and all. Take the El to Wrigley Field before noon. I won't know our precise line-up address until a week prior, so keep our business cell number with you: 847 414-1692.

Second, I'd like to incorporate intersex awareness into the banners I'm having made for our parade vehicle, and on our handout literature. So my question is:

What's your favorite concise slogan or phrase that makes the point that infants should always be left with the anatomy they're born with until they're old enough to weigh in on any surgery decision. I say "concise" not to be stingy with sign space, but because fewer words means larger type.

Thanks for your time.

Cheers,
-Ron Low
TLCTugger.com

[JOS]

how about

Care without the cutting
A childs choice should count

or

Wait ! Scars last a life-time

[queerunity]

"scars last a lifetime" is a good one!

genital mutilation is no cause for celebration?

[fraulein_Maria]

"scars last a lifetime" is a good one!

genital mutilation is no cause for celebration?

>>> i like the one that is a "no scalpal" sign followed by the words...

"give'm an inch, and they take a smile :( "

[TLCTugger]

Thanks gang. We've got at least 10 days before we go to press, so keep 'em coming. Understand these will be seen in the context of an anti-circumcision brigade handing out literature and wearing slogan T-Shirts.

My point is that intersex needs to be plainly part of the message (without getting too longwinded).

I tell people: "Adults invariably say they wish they hadn't been subjected to so-called normalizing childhood surgery for their intersex condition." Is this true? Or are there people glad to have grown up looking as mainstream as possible?

I'm getting at a slogan maybe like "100% of intersex adults oppose childhood normalizing surgery" or "100% of intersex adults regret their childhood normalizing surgery"

Cheers,
-Ron

[fraulein_Maria]

[QUOTE=TLCTugger;14852]Thanks gang.

I tell people: "Adults invariably say they wish they hadn't been subjected to so-called normalizing childhood surgery for their intersex condition." Is this true?

>>> after therapy, yes. sadly, that's not the majority. what i mean is that the majority of IS people are brain-washed into thinking themselves so defective and abominable (by parents and doctors respectively) that they embrace there oppression. Its a typical reaction of the abused to the doings of the abuser. We see children running into the arms of parents who beat them until there bones break. Why? because they're bonded. And the parent has convinced them that the abuse equals love. These children (if they live) pass on this emotional legacy.
We live. Our shattered sense of self re-inforced by the misfortune of trusting the wrong person to open up to the first time.

I consider myself lucky. I always knew i was different. But different in my home environment did not mean "bad" "defective" or "abominable".

Because i was demonstrably smarter than the average bear, i grew up thinking different meant.... "special". :)

And so, discovering that the source of my genital pain was childhood surgery on a part judged by folks i had never met (and a father i disliked) as being "too big" had me furious.....

Because i had not had a lifetime of negative indoctrination. <<<

Or are there people glad to have grown up looking as mainstream as possible?

>>> how can a child know whether or not they are "main-stream" unless some adult tells them so? short of living in a nudist camp? <<<

I'm getting at a slogan maybe like "100% of intersex adults oppose childhood normalizing surgery" or "100% of intersex adults regret their childhood normalizing surgery"

>>> we can't be that dishonest Ron. I believe that MOST of us will COME to regret it IF we are fortunate enough to AQUIRE the self-esteem necessary to believe that we are JUST FINE as Godde made us. The IS movement is still in its "CR" phase. Raising consciousness is never easy. But its a necessary first step.

[Kailana]

Might give that a try as a slogan


Advocating Intersexed Rights as Maria states is still fairly new but as I see it a beneficail and neccessary task that must be done, to many of us have been repeatedly hurt by Medical professionals and parents because they just dont understand that how we see ourselves trumps how they see us. If they really want to help us, then being open and honest and letting us decide what to do or not to do is the best way for us to find our own way in life. Cutting is not the solution Dr's once thought it was, way to much harm has been endured, way too many lies are being told, all meant to cover up what has been forced onto us, and that must end.

Raising Consciousness is always a good thing.
or something like that, I am sure would or could be beneficial as a slogan.
or others,
#1
My Body is mine
Dr.s don't get to decide
what I Am
#2
What happened to honesty and compassion,
Dr's keep hurting me.
#3
im OK being different
Intersexed and Proud
#4
what is normal?
Intersexed people
are normal
#5
Forced surgery equals mutilation
#6
This is my body
These are my rights
I am a human-being,
treat me like one and
stop forcing surgery
on intersexed patients
and let us decide if we are
Men or Women
(that one is a little long for a slogan but whatever)
#7
Scalpels are for healing
not hurting, Stop
causing Pain and
Suffering

theres a few for you. Hope they help

[TLCTugger]

Hi,
Here's what the committee settled on for the main banner that will be on the vehicle for the parade:
http://TLCTugger.com/Media/PrideBanner6.gif

Thanks for all your great thoughts on this.

Cheers,

[Kailana]

I think I have an issue with the being 18 years of age. I think many of us, had we been given the chance, would have opted for our own choice when it comes to surgery. Being 18 shouldn't have anything to do with how we see ourselves. If a teen wants/needs surgery, it should be offered only with his or her consent, being 18, legally an adult, can just interfere with how other people see them, and how they see themselves.

Fact I am positive I would of been happy had surgery been offered to me at 12 years of age, when I was first told I was a girl. <---- sort of. those were just the words used by my family pediatrician.

That I think is my only real comment on the banner. Its bold but also misleading. Might of thought stronger with: a person's body belongs to them, parents and doctors do not have a right to force any cosmetic surgury on a person, our bodies our our bodies, not theirs. Only we get to decide what we want done, if we want anything done, or when we want any surguries done.

[TLCTugger]

Thanks for your comments. The banner guy I paid Friday just e-mailed me that he's not getting the colors to look good enough to charge me. He's declining the job. Now I have even less time to find another vendor, but I guess I can tweak the deisgn. What if I added the idea of consent?

"...protected from non-consentual cosmetic genital surgery until at least age 18."

I don't mean to encourage people to deny IS folk surgery that's desired just because someone is under 18.

Regards,
-Ron

[Kailana]

"...protected from non-consentual cosmetic genital surgery until at least age 18."

You might want to think about just losing the "untill at least 18 years of age" That i think is what has me in a bind, gives the impression that you must be 18 in order to have the right to chose for yourself, what you are, or if you want surgery, or need it.

just a thought

Sorry to hear about the vendor having issues with the color not working out. You know that could just be bigotry again, rearing it's ugly head, too sensitive of a topic that he/she has an issue with.

[The Female Eunuch]

I agree with kailana's suggestion, but 'protected from cosmetic surgery without consent' may be easier for the reader to follow.

I don't like the wording 'boys, girls and intersex people', because it implies that intersex kids don't have the right to be considered to be boys or girls. But I'm not sure how it could be reworded, because I do see the point in listing the three categories. Both male circumcision and intersex genital mutilation are issues in western society (though I see the intersex issue as a much more serious one). Most westerners don't approve of cosmetic surgery on non-intersex girls, but it's worth mentioning just to make the analogy between it and the other cases.

[TLCTugger]

Thanks, I hear you about the 18 thing, but I have a problem removing it because people who want circumcise a boy would read "non-consentual genital surgery" and say, "phew, that's a relief - I GAVE consent for his circumcision so they're not talking about me."

Anyway, the banners are a done deal after all. The note I got about banner colors not turning out was actually from my magnet vendor, who used the word banners by mistake. (I'm having giant "=" sign rectangle magnets made in rainbow colors for the hood of the station wagon/float).

I damn near ordered an additional set of banners because this guy had me so confused.

[JOS]

Good luck for Sunday

hope it all goes smoothly... are you having flyers too?

;0)

[TLCTugger]

Good luck for Sunday

hope it all goes smoothly... are you having flyers too?

;0)
Thanks. The show goes on rain or shine. And it looks like rain.

Here's the 2-sided flyer ($470 for 12,000 magazine-quality copies):
http://TLCTugger.com/Media/NORM-PrideLeaflet-1.JPG
http://TLCTugger.com/Media/NORM-PrideLeaflet-2.JPG
The NORM guys wrote it.
-Ron

[george.cole]

My point is that intersex needs to be plainly part of the message (without getting too longwinded).
:applaudth :applaudth :applaudth
I tell people: "Adults invariably say they wish they hadn't been subjected to so-called normalizing childhood surgery for their intersex condition." Is this true? Or are there people glad to have grown up looking as mainstream as possible?



Yeast Infection ( http://www.yeastinfectionadvice.com)

[Kailana]

George, who looks mainstream?
Why do you assume, normalizing surgery only happens in a person's childhood?

sorry not meant to be a knock, just that I tend to get real annoyed when people assume surgery without consent only happens when your a kid.

[Trixie]

My point is that intersex needs to be plainly part of the message (without getting too longwinded).
:applaudth :applaudth :applaudth
I tell people: "Adults invariably say they wish they hadn't been subjected to so-called normalizing childhood surgery for their intersex condition." Is this true? Or are there people glad to have grown up looking as mainstream as possible?





People, the troll simply reposted this from earlier in the thread --

[quote=TLCTugger;14852]Thanks gang. We've got at least 10 days before we go to press, so keep 'em coming. Understand these will be seen in the context of an anti-circumcision brigade handing out literature and wearing slogan T-Shirts.

My point is that intersex needs to be plainly part of the message (without getting too longwinded).

I tell people: "Adults invariably say they wish they hadn't been subjected to so-called normalizing childhood surgery for their intersex condition." Is this true? Or are there people glad to have grown up looking as mainstream as possible?

I'm getting at a slogan maybe like "100% of intersex adults oppose childhood normalizing surgery" or "100% of intersex adults regret their childhood normalizing surgery"

Cheers,
-Ron


TROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[prince....ss?]

Cool!!! after you posted the question to george I figured there were other copy and paste posts. I did a search but I missed this one. good job Detective Trixie