Lawsuit filed in Denver court seeks to ban male circumcision in Colorado

Of all the fights to pick in Denver District Court, this might be the most personal: two Colorado men want the state to outlaw circumcision…

The men have filed a lawsuit in Denver District Court seeking to outlaw male circumcision statewide, arguing that the state’s existing ban on female genital mutilation but not male circumcision amounts to sex discrimination.

Tristan Huff of Fort Collins and Adam Schwartz of Denver filed the suit June 9, asking a judge to issue an injunction requiring the state to extend its 1999 law — which defines removing the external genitalia or clitoris from female children as misdemeanor child abuse — to also prohibit circumcision of male children. The plaintiffs argue the disparity violates Colorado’s 1972 Equal Rights Amendment. Both men say they were injured by the procedure as infants and have experienced pain, scarring and reduced sexual sensitivity.

The lawsuit was brought with the help of Intact Global, a California-based legal nonprofit dedicated to protecting children from what it calls “non-religious genital mutilation.” Westword reported the group has been working toward a legal challenge like this for years, and Colorado was chosen as the test case.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has not taken a definitive stance on male circumcision, saying parents should weigh benefits — including lower risk of urinary tract infections in infancy and lower risk of sexually transmitted infections in adulthood — against potential risks such as bleeding, infection or scarring. The academy does oppose female genital mutilation, citing a lack of medical benefits. A 2020 review of available studies found mixed results on the effects of circumcision on sexual functioning.

No hearing date has been publicly announced. Colorado’s existing female genital mutilation law exempts procedures performed for medical reasons.