Slog - Comments on "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off!" http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut That's the motto of Eunicure, a loosely affiliated group of "board-certified urological surgeons" that offers hope--in the form of castration--to homosexuals that have failed to control their desires through prayer, meditation, or other non-scalpel-based interventions. From the Eunicure website... Q. Isn't the Eunicure extreme? The Eunicure is not for everyone and should be no one’s first choice. Only if all other forms of treatment have failed to eliminate your homosexuality should you consider what Eunicure offers. However since the rate of AIDS and suicide is so much higher among homosexual men than among those without such an orientation, the Eunicure... Copyright 2008 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:15:14 -0800 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:24:42 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Fifty-Two-Eighty I'll bet the Kansas Board of Medical Examiners has this info available online; I know Colorado does.

]]> Fifty-Two-Eighty http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965344 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965344 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:24:05 -0800 Comment by Ziggity The phrase "board certified" turns me on.

]]> Ziggity http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965350 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965350 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:25:15 -0800 Comment by MSB A quick search of: http://www.docboard.org/ks/df/kssearch.htm yields no licensees with the last name of Feathertree.

]]> MSB http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965352 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965352 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:26:40 -0800 Comment by Levislade Yeah, this is total B.S. Come on now.

What 3 said. If you want to check any other state, go here: http://www.noah-health.org/en/usmd/state.html

]]> Levislade http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965354 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965354 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:27:48 -0800 Comment by Dan Savage I think it's a hoax too... still, I wouldn't put it past 'em.

]]> Dan Savage http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965360 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965360 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:30:26 -0800 Comment by Nora Yeah--"EUNicure"--that in itself sounds like a put-on, considering what they purport to do...

Plus is elective castration actually legal? Outside of sex reassignment surgery, I mean? Seems to me that lawsuits aplenty would be flying.

]]> Nora http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965361 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965361 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:30:56 -0800 Comment by km No way this if for real. Check out the testimonials- they're definitely fake.

(question: should it be 'testis'-monials? Har har.)

]]> km http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965366 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965366 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:31:44 -0800 Comment by IPFreely Feathertree sounds like a made up name. It's not quite as overt as Dr. Timothy Ballslicer, but still.

]]> IPFreely http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965377 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965377 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:33:07 -0800 Comment by Gay Seattle If it is a parody, I do think it sends an extremely funny yet poignant message to religious folks about how far society should go to ‘prevent’ homosexuality. Proposing surgical castration, which causes a “complete lack of sexual desire of any kind”, sends a powerful message to nearly every man out there, gay or straight.

]]> Gay Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965380 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965380 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:34:02 -0800 Comment by Kim Scarborough I guarantee it's a hoax. No on-the-level Christian site would pay tribute to Phelps, as these guys do right on the front page. Everybody realizes the guy is a lunatic, and every Christian organization on the planet has disassociated themselves (in fact, an unrelated church in Canada that had been called "Westboro Baptist Church" for decades changed their name just so people would stop confusing them with Phelps's organization).

]]> Kim Scarborough http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965391 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965391 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:37:35 -0800 Comment by umvue On third thought...

If one asks for volunteers for removing one's genes from the pool one should accept all comers.

]]> umvue http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965395 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965395 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:39:16 -0800 Comment by bill I'd think hoax too, but the level of punning in the name is fantastic.

Eunicure = Eunuch you are
= Unique cure
= bed cure (Eun in eunuch is from the Greek word for bed)

I could go on, but this is English professor stuff. . .

]]> bill http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965411 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965411 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:42:45 -0800 Comment by Westside forever I could easily see this being for real if it were done outside the US. I can't see a board certified urologist getting any kind of malpractice insurer to sign off on elective castration.

But I kind of wish it was true, cause then it would indicate that self-hating fundies are into the kinkiest shit imaginable.

If homo-sex is beyond the pale, what the fuck can you say about scheduling a castration while your mom watches? Damn!

]]> Westside forever http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965439 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965439 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:48:41 -0800 Comment by Rebecca Hoax. There's an ad for Truth Wins Out on the front page.

]]> Rebecca http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965455 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965455 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:53:47 -0800 Comment by Henrietta Feathertree doesn't even turn up in google, although I just learned about the existance of christmas trees made of goose feathers.

I also enjoyed the testimonial of "Jay B."

]]> Henrietta http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965462 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965462 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:57:58 -0800 Comment by Henrietta This site is brilliant. Didja notice "I cured my herpes: simple home remedy cures herpes within 72 hours." on the front page?

No link unfortunately.

]]> Henrietta http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965478 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965478 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:02:08 -0800 Comment by Smade Have they considered placing an ad at Landover Baptist?

]]> Smade http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965484 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965484 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:02:37 -0800 Comment by Mike in MO Where the fuck do find this shit?

]]> Mike in MO http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965485 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965485 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:03:35 -0800 Comment by Henrietta Holy shit the herpes cure is real!

]]> Henrietta http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965490 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965490 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:05:54 -0800 Comment by Jiberish yes you can get elective castration done in the US just not this hoax site.

http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2006-04-06/cover.shtml

i guess philly is the castration capitol of the country not kansas

]]> Jiberish http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965518 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965518 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:12:27 -0800 Comment by JohnJohn 1) The street address listed is for the Westboro Baptist Church itself, and the site talks about the funding it gets from Christian sources it doesn't name - so chances are this is a Phelps thing, trying to con gays into getting their balls cut off. Wonder if he'll keep them in a jar on his desk.

2) Doctors perform gender reassignment surgery involving castration all the time without losing their license. Search for "Body Dismorphic Disorder." There are people who have sought, and recieved, the surgical removal of a limb or other body part that they do not, for whatever, reason, recognize as "theirs."

3) It is possible that if there is a Dr. Feathertree, he is not praticing medicine in Kansas, only acting as a director so wouldn't be listed as a praticing doctor in Kansas, and he might have - heck, probably MUST have - gotten his medical degree on some small island somewhere.

]]> JohnJohn http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965536 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965536 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:15:48 -0800 Comment by Fnarf I'm pretty sure the notion that castration removes all sexual desire, and all sexual ability, is false.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965541 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965541 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:16:06 -0800 Comment by JohnJohn 1) The street address listed is for the Westboro Baptist Church itself, and the site talks about the funding it gets from Christian sources it doesn't name - so chances are this is a Phelps thing, trying to con gays into getting their balls cut off. Wonder if he'll keep them in a jar on his desk.

2) Doctors perform gender reassignment surgery involving castration all the time without losing their license. Search for "Body Dismorphic Disorder." There are people who have sought, and recieved, the surgical removal of a limb or other body part that they do not, for whatever, reason, recognize as "theirs."

3) It is possible that if there is a Dr. Feathertree, he is not praticing medicine in Kansas, only acting as a director so wouldn't be listed as a praticing doctor in Kansas, and he might have - heck, probably MUST have - gotten his medical degree on some small island somewhere.

]]> JohnJohn http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965543 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965543 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:16:46 -0800 Comment by lauren Hey, anyone want to meet up at "The Sparkle" to do some blow and blow some dudes, as they say?

]]> lauren http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965558 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965558 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:21:21 -0800 Comment by VanNat I'm glad I read this and didn't hear it, because if I'd just heard it I'd have thought it was a pedicure for someone with only one toe.

]]> VanNat http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965575 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965575 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:25:48 -0800 Comment by Calpete @12 -- I noticed also that if you say "Andrew Johnson" relatively quickly it sounds sort of like "androgynous". Wonder if they did that on purpose too?

]]> Calpete http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965654 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965654 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:40:14 -0800 Comment by Schweighsr Doctors in the US require the patient to undergo extensive psychiatric examinations before castrations - simply for fear of being sued. Remember the cult that all commited suicide a couple of years ago - they were going to join a 'mothership' near Jupiter? [They did web-pages, too - I can not remember their name though] They couldn't get their castrations done in the US, so they went to Mexico.

It could be a hoax in either direction - that is the church looking for names of homosexual men to torment or some one's attack on the church - but I doubt if it is real. the threat of liability is just too high.

]]> Schweighsr http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965691 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965691 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:46:28 -0800 Comment by Dan Savage Okay, well... I got an email back from their spokesmodel, and I'm going to give him a call.

]]> Dan Savage http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965705 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965705 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:49:01 -0800 Comment by nbc Here's a fun thought experiment for you.

Would right wing support stem cell research if it promised a cure for homosexuality?

]]> nbc http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965717 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965717 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:53:02 -0800 Comment by Hernandez @29 - I'm inclined to think their heads would explode all at once. Choosing between "God hates fags" and "God loves embryos" would be too much for their feeble minds to process.

]]> Hernandez http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965731 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c965731 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:57:19 -0800 Comment by JohnJohn First, sorry for the double post. Second, since it keeps coming up, those are Google Adsense ads on the site - they aren't connected to the site or part of the site or whatever you want to call it. Google just posts the ads in those slots that it wants to.

]]> JohnJohn http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c966149 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c966149 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:02:50 -0800 Comment by None at this time Yeah, castration doesn't end sexual desires. I'm a non-op trans, and I have had an orchidectomy. Even with a ton of estrogen and no testicles, I can still get aroused and "perform" with my lover.

That said, the nature of my sex drive has changed - I don't respond to the same things or the same way as I did before.

]]> None at this time http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c966435 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c966435 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:43:51 -0800 Comment by Fnarf That's what I thought. Which is one reason why castrating rapists doesn't make them safe.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c966477 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c966477 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:52:57 -0800 Comment by Wolf The first and most obvious tipoff that this is a fraud/parody: "100% Effective!"

There are very few things that can make that claim verifiably in medicine, and surgical castration is certainly not one of those that can.

]]> Wolf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c966669 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c966669 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:49:42 -0800 Comment by Ayden Most men seeking castration (and they are out there) usually end up doing it themselves - or have friends help. Using the methods and tools that are used to geld livestock.

See Eunuch.org

This might actually be a fetish you wouldn't approve, Dan...

]]> Ayden http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c966721 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c966721 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:07:54 -0800 Comment by PJ The scariest thing is that we think (know?) this kind of stuff might be remotely possible. As in, there could be those out there who actually think this way.

]]> PJ http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c966829 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c966829 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:30:19 -0800 Comment by Johnny Well, if it really is Fred Phelps who's behind this, the solution is much simpler...just mail out a picture of his evil, sour puss...or better yet one of his rancid groin pickle. I can assure you I've lost any sense of libido I had just thinking of that.

]]> Johnny http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c966903 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c966903 Homo Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:10:53 -0800 Comment by Punninglinguist Speaking of Fred Phelps, does anyone else think that Dan Savage should start a fund to sic these guys on them?

http://www.entartistes.ca/english.html

]]> Punninglinguist http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c967066 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c967066 Homo Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:49:57 -0800 Comment by Punninglinguist On him, that is. But perhaps on the whole Phelps cabal, too.

]]> Punninglinguist http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c967067 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c967067 Homo Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:50:58 -0800 Comment by bd This is officially hilarious.

]]> bd http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c968156 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/if_your_right_hand_causes_you_to_sin_cut#c968156 Homo Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:24:42 -0800