California cities and counties no longer will be able to pass local laws banning the practice of male circumcision under a law signed by California Governor Jerry Brown Sunday.
Brown, a 73-year-old Democrat, signed a bill inspired by San Francisco’s failed attempt to ban male circumcision. A group called MGMbill.org decried the practice as cruel, equating it with female genital mutilation.
RELATED:US Jews hail decision against San Fran circumcision ban SF anti-circumcision measure ‘unconstitutional’ The group collected signatures to put a measure on the city ballot. A judge in July removed the measure, ruling that cities have no power to regulate a state-licensed medical procedure.
In June, an activist ended a similar effort in Santa Monica, saying the
media had misrepresented her campaign as an attack on religious freedom,
according to the
Jewish Journal.
The Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Community Relations Council of
San Francisco argued that the San Francisco measure would restrict
parental choice and religious freedom. Jews and Muslims circumcise boys
as a religious rite.
Male circumcision of newborns fell to 56.9 percent in 2008 from 62.5
percent in 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a
Sept. 2 report, citing a national hospital discharge survey.