“When I came to New York, all my dreams were here, just waiting for me,” says David. The resonance of Intact America’s message was abundantly clear, and the sparkle in David’s eyes – as he danced and twirled and strutted his banner – was priceless. David’s organizing skills and passion were much in evidence, as this former kid from South Carolina directed Intact America’s demonstrators, float drivers, disc jockeys, parade assistants, demonstrators, and dancers through the complexities of an event attended by more than a million people.
This year’s march, on the heels of the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage, was the largest ever. In 2006, a small group of Intactivists were approved to enter the New York City Gay Pride parade – among them, Julia and Emily Legutko, who later took up the Intact America banner. LGBT American parents, just like ’straight‘ American parents, are faced with the same question of keeping their boys whole or taking a knife to them.” Tragically, though, it’s still quite legal to cut children’s genitals if they are male. Also, gays have always been parents, but today it’s openly and legally accepted. What we have in common is questioning social norms and religious bigotry, and we fight for the same cause: Neither our parents, nor our culture, nor any religion owns our bodies, and only we can decide what to do with them. “For the most part the gay community is very open to the intactivist message. I strike from all angles with my own money, my time and – believe me – my own blood, sweat, and tears.” All the complications… I knew them well because I lived them, and still do.”įrom that time, David joined intactivist campaigns, demonstrations, and protests. When I read about the harm from circumcision, it was my own story. I refer to it as the deeply personal, ‘Killing Me Softly With His Song,’ effect. “I immediately got on my computer and found Intact America’s website. “Alan talked about the way the foreskin enhances sexual pleasure, things I didn’t know,” says David. In a small column, it briefly mentioned actor Alan Cumming’s appearance at a local club, where he “suddenly” brought up the subject of foreskin and talked about his support for a group called Intact America. His intactivism started years later with a tiny mention of Intact America in Next magazine, a popular weekly that covers NYC gay nightlife. “I knew as early as I have memories that I was gay, and though I had loving parents, I knew my answers lay elsewhere.” So at the age of 17, David jumped on a Trailways bus to New York City. “I always felt great inspiration about being born in a year that shook the world,” he says, “and in times of self-doubt and fear, I use that to pull me out.” JULY 2015: This July we honor David Grant, intactivist and volunteer extraordinaire, whose on-the-ground organizing made Intact America’s presence at the 2015 NYC Pride March a rousing success.ĭavid was born in South Carolina in June 1969 – just weeks before the Stonewall Riot and one year before the first Gay Pride March.