AAP TRADESHOW INSIDER: "Listen to Intactivists" Says Sole Presenter on Circumcision

Intactivists already knew that the AAP would be hosting a pro-circumcision workshop at their 2012 tradeshow. Titled "Pros & Cons of Doing Circumcisions," it was described as a session that "aims to explain what one needs to do in order to set up a program to do neonatal circumcisions and how one can become an expert circumciser."  (Here's a screenshot in case the latter gets taken down.)

Given the fact that the AAP had denied Intact America a booth on their tradeshow premises, nevermind the name and description of this workshop, nevermind the AAP's latest policy statement on infant circumcision, and nevermind their refusal to publish letters of opposition, Intactivists assumed the workshop speaker was going to toe the AAP party line on infant circumcision.

However Tweets from within AAP shindig say that something rather different from the workshop's description transpired. According to one Dr. Daniel Flanders:

"Dr. Homsy: Those who oppose circumcision are conveying an important message and their voices should be heard."

Queried that this was hardly the message in the session's abstract, Dr. Flanders further Tweeted:

"I noticed that discrepancy as well. The lecture was not as described in the program. Focus was on medically necessary circ."

Challenged on his own views, he Tweeted:

"My personal views are irrelevant. Professionally, I do not do circumcisions."

If I'm understanding correctly, the only presenter on circumcision at the AAP tradeshow, who was supposed to give a pro-circ message, ended up telling his audience they should listen to those protesting outside instead. And, instead of focusing on how to become a prolific mutilator of healthy children's genitals, he focused on medically necessary circumcision. (The only kind of circumcision intactivists believe should ever happen in non-consenting minors.)

Curiouser and curiouser...

Source: Circumstitions News

AAP TRADE SHOW 2012: What Went Down in N'Orleans

In earlier posts I wrote about how the AAP has effectively tried to silence critics of its latest position statement on infant circumcision. It has refused to publish letters of opposition, and it banned the presence of Intact America at their trade show in New Orleans.

In my last post, I wrote that, not satisfied with having kicked out Intact America, the AAP was trying to silence protesters outside of the facilities where they were having their get-together.

The details of what exactly went down are now available. (I first accessed them here.)

It should give readers an insight on the prevailing attitudes of the leadership at the AAP.

Intact America's very own Georgeanne Chapin recounts what happened first-hand:

Saturday, the second day of our protest, two AAP officials convened with police and security guards in front of the convention center. A couple of Intactivists were able to overhear some of the conversation. They asked the police if we could not be forced to leave the area. The police told them no, that we were marching on public property, and that we were breaking no laws.

I actually went up to the man, extended my hand, and introduced myself as Georgeanne Chapin, executive director of Intact America. He refused to shake my hand and said, "So what?"

I said I just wanted to introduce myself and I would like to know his name. He said, "I don't agree with anything you do or say," turned on his heel, and walked away.

We had the equivalent of an outdoor, public booth across from the Center; it was a streetcorner, next to an outdoor parking lot, which was next to a Marriott Hotel. On Friday, we had received permission from the lot owner to hang our "I Did Not Consent" banner, and other signs on the chain link fence.

                    Picture: Intact Lousiana

Around an hour after the AAP officials' unsuccessful attempt to get rid of us, the valet from the Marriott came and told us that the owner of the parking lot said we were trespassing and had to take the banner and signs down.

Dan Bollinger asked to speak with the owner who "didn't have time" to talk with us, but asked the valet if he could give us the guy's number. Dan called him (turns out it was the manager, not the owner), and had a very pleasant conversation, which ended in him agreeing to extend the permission for us to have the signs up for two more days. (We paid him a small fee.) 

We are certain that the AAP also had complained to the Marriott, which is what sparked them to contact the parking lot manager (who clearly felt he didn't owe the AAP anything). Very nice. All of that said, we had some good conversations, and I felt that by being on the street rather than in the convention exhibit hall, we were free to say all the things we believe.

So there you have it.

Make of the details what you will.

Why do they refuse to publish letters of opposition?

Why did they ban Intact America from their trade show?

But most of all, why did they want have the protesters removed from the premises?

Going as far as trying to get NOPD to remove them from public property?

If the AAP is so confident in its new statement, then what is it so afraid of?

To me, these are the actions of guilty criminals squirming under the light of scrutiny.

The AAP has released a horrendously flawed statement they cannot actually substantiate, they know it, and they don't want to be confronted with anybody who can give them a run for their money.

Sooner or later something's gotta give.

They can't keep the truth hidden forever.

AAP TRADE SHOW 2012: Silencing Dissent - First the Booth, Now the Protest

In my last post, I wrote about how the AAP decided to kick out the intactivist organization Intact America from within their 2012 trade show. I speculated that the AAP made this decision because they saw Intact America as a threat.

Kicking out Intact America from their 2012 trade show wouldn't have been their only attempt at silencing dissent; the AAP has taken the liberty of taking down, and refusing to publish moderate, referenced, well-researched letters in opposition on their website.

Now, it appears, the AAP is trying to silence dissent outside of their trade show. Intactivists have managed to launch a small, but very vocal protest outside of the facilities where the AAP is hosting their trade exhibition, and the AAP is trying to get them shut down.

Intactivist Protesters Outside of the 2012 AAP Trade Show

It is now ever clear that the AAP has made a huge mistake, they know it, and they are feeling the burn. It is now clear that self-serving forces with an agenda are working from within the AAP to silence dissent. They are intimidated by intactivists and terrified of the truth; their actions of fear and apprehension prove it.

“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”

~Buddha

 "Truth suppress'd, whether by courts or crooks, will find an avenue to be told."
~Sheila Steele

"You can fool some people, some of the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time."
~Unknown

The AAP is mistaken if it thinks they can hide the truth from everyone. They may withhold letters of opposition, and kick out groups they do not like from their trade shows, but they WILL NOT SILENCE US.

SHAME ON YOU, AAP.

SILENCING DISSENT: AAP Bans Intact America from Trade Show

 
I had already addressed the AAP silencing dissent following the release of their latest policy statement on circumcision. Letters of criticism that took their latest statement apart were either withdrawn from their website, if not never even published. We know that there are letters that do not appear on the AAP website because a number of human rights activists published them openly. They can be read here.

And now, as if taking down or withholding letters of dissent, weren't enough, the AAP has decided to prohibit Intact America from having a booth inside their trade show happening in New Orleans, even after four straight years of exhibiting.

In contrast, they will host a workshop titled "Pros & Cons of Doing Circumcisions," which is described as follows: "This session aims to explain what one needs to do in order to set up a program to do neonatal circumcisions and how one can become an expert circumciser."  (Here's a screenshot in case the latter gets taken down.)

My only guess is that the AAP is clearly intimidated by Intact America, because they are able to take apart their latest policy statement and call them out on their ulterior motives. The AAP knows their latest policy statement is horrendously flawed, and they are terrified to let Intact America speak on the matter, because they don't want to be confronted with the truth.

The extent to which the AAP is going to silence intactivism shows just how terrified they are of our message, how weak their position actually is, and how inept they are at defending it.

 

How You Can Help
The AAP may have kicked Intact America out of their trade show, but they are not going to stop intactivists from protesting outside the convention center that weekend. You can still help Intact America make an impact in New Orleans by donating to them. Your donation will help Intact America stage a major press conference and demonstration, produce and distribute educational materials to thousands of pediatricians, and place Open Letters in the New Orleans Times Picayune.

Help our voice be heard!

2012 AAP Tradeshow Demonstration Planned

I am repeating a post The WHOLE Network made on Facebook.

Looks like the American Academy of Pediatrics has noticed The WHOLE Network's "Wash Your Hands Clean of the AAP" campaign! Click this link to their upcoming national conference and watch the scrolling photos. People writing on themselves with permanent marker... look familiar?

Join The WHOLE Network's online campaign on Facebook here.

Watch the video:
YouTube
Vimeo

View the Facebook photo album here (updated weekly).

Sign Intact America's petition here.

Join thousands of others in commenting on AAP's Facebook page to tell them you do not agree with their new stance on circumcision.

Be a part of the mass intactivist demonstration outside of their national convention in New Orleans next month. Click here for the Facebook event.

Intact America will be there, with signs, handouts, and a press conference on Saturday, October 20. If you haven't already "liked" Intact America on Facebook, PLEASE DO IT NOW. And take action by writing to the AAP and telling them what you think about their new circumcision task force report.