Landmark male genital mutilation lawsuit may proceed in Oregon

Hadachek v. Oregon seeks to challenge Oregon's statutes forbidding female genital cutting by alleging that they violate the state constitution's equal protection clause, because those statutes are only enforced for females, not males. The lawsuit observes that female genital cutting is illegal in 41 states (meaning it's legal in 9 states, although it's still illegal nationwide under federal law). The lawsuit describes a harrowing account of female genital cutting performed on a five year old girl, followed by the observation that the horrific procedure would be legal if done to a boy, and in fact is routinely inflicted on boys, even without anesthesia. The lawsuit also discusses the background of male and female genital cutting, and describes the harm suffered by the plaintiffs. It observes that it is illegal in Oregon to decoratively pierce a boy's foreskin, but legal to amputate it completely.

The lawsuit does not seek to outlaw male genital cutting, as that is the province of the legislature. It does not seek to legalize female genital cutting or outlaw medically necessary male circumcision. It merely seeks a declaration that the Oregon laws forbidding female genital cutting are unconstitutional.

This lawsuit may be the first step in outlawing circumcision nationwide.

https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/66119b8c4d0c10f195159122/68ffc17c4427b7e2f725ab01_2025-03-27---Hadachek-v.-Oregon---First-Amended-Oregon-Equal-Protection-Complaint-(Conformed).pdf