GALDEF was proud to have helped Intact America create a magical evening for its inaugural Skin in the Game Awards held at Poster House in New York City on April 30.

The vibe at the inaugural event was fabulous and fun, re-connecting veteran intactivists and welcoming new ones to our movement.

GALDEF Executive Director Tim Hammond noted that this was a breakthrough moment for the genital autonomy movement, and sharing with Intact America’s Georganne Chapin that he had been waiting 35 years to see the movement progress to this point where it could honor a celebrity for their outspoken support of bodily integrity/genital autonomy and an end to the U.S. social custom of newborn penile circumcision.

This year activist Alan Cumming was the honoree and, as always, he was charming and witty (and he also got the room up and dancing with his after-party DJ set). Cumming is a patron of both Intact America and 15 Square in the U.K.. During a private meet and greet, Hammond thanked him for his advocacy and presented the honoree with a GALDEF swag bag containing a “Different Bodies. Same Rights.” t-shirt, a tie tack bearing the GALDEF logo, and a GALDEF-branded lapel button with the message “If men were meant to have foreskins they would be born with one.” All items are available in GALDEF’s online merchandise store. Tim also included several different informational cards that GALDEF distributes at public events, as well as a personal letter thanking the actor for his outspokenness and inviting him to let other celebrity friends know about GALDEF who might share his passion on this issue.

Five of our eight GALDEF board members attended the event with spouses and partners. GALDEF was given official recognition in the printed program and in the opening slide show, both of which helped to raise our visibility in the genital autonomy community. GALDEF was the only intactivist organization to be a Corporate Sponsor of the event.

In the U.S., “BIG CIRC” profits to the tune of $6 BILLION annually from the vulnerability of mothers, the pain and suffering of baby boys, the lifelong harm to the men those infants become, and everyone in their personal orbits. According to Intact America’s Chapin “Everyone has skin in the game. Circumcision cuts through us all.”

With GALDEF’s help, Intact America raised nearly $150,000 from this event for its education and advocacy programs to stop the harm of circumcision.

Actor, entertainer Alan Cumming accepts Intact America’s Skin in the Game Award for his outspoken criticism of newborn penile circumcision.

GALDEF Vice President Mat Goodwin, Executive Director Tim Hammond, Outreach Coordinator David
Balashinsky, and Newsletter Coordinator Alexis Lanzilotta (not pictured, Treasurer Jake Cox).

GALDEF received recognition of its Corporate Sponsorship during the opening slide presentation and in
the printed program.

Executive Director Tim Hammond joined scores of other attendees in explaining why he has Skin in the
Game.

“DJ” Alan Cumming helps to rock the Poster House for a memorable event.

Veteran activist Ron Low and GALDEF supporter David Marker