SF Pride Parade - Intactivists

B.A.N.G. The Bay Area iNtactivist Group in San Francisco's Gay Pride Parade 2009 marches for genital integrity rights.

Why do/did you have foreskin?

The foreskin occupies a prominent position on an important organ. The foreskins location and structure indicate that it is the most important sensory tissue of the penis. Its persistence over millions of years suggests that it has played a role in the propagation of the species.

A well-integrated organ

Structurally, the penis is highly integrated. The glans, foreskin and skin of the penile shaft function as a single unit, not as a collection of separate parts with entirely different functions. The functions of the glans and foreskin are similar, and overlapping, but come fully into their own at different times during intercourse.

Simple sensations

The outer surface of the foreskin is specialized to detect feather-light touch and other sensations, including painful ones. The infamous zipper injury is an extreme example of the sort of damage the outer skin was designed to detect and prevent, long before the zipper posed a threat to the uninitiated.

Compared with the true (outer) skin of the foreskin, the glans is only feebly sensitive to light touch, pain, heat and cold. This is part of the reason we call the foreskin the primary sensory tissue of the penis. Without the foreskin, the end of the penis is numb to a host of sensations that tell the owner whether one of his most prized organs is in good company, or should move to safety.

Complex sensations

Thanks to its ridged band, the inner lining of the foreskin is specialized sexual tissue. The ridged band readily expands and contracts and is obviously designed to detect stretching forces. When penile shaft skin tugs on the ridged band, special genital corpuscles in the peaks of the ridges detect movement and trigger ejaculation. Stretching of the ridged band may also trigger and sustain erection.

Electrical stimulation of the glans triggers nerve impulses that pass to the spinal cord and then to the muscle of ejaculation. Clearly the glans has much in common with the foreskin. Where foreskin and glans part company, functionally as well as physically, is in their sensitivity to light touch, pain and heat and cold. Contrary to common opinion, the glans is not highly sensitive to a broad range of stimuli.

Foreskin vs. glans

It is unclear whether the ridged band simply plays backup for the glans, or whether the two have different functions. The location of the retracted ridged band on the erect penile shaft suggests that the difference is one of timing. Possibly, the foreskin and its ridged band are designed to ensure that sexual reflexes are triggered when, and only when, these structures are stretched during intercourse. The biological importance of the ridged band to conception is self-evident, but there is still a major gap in our understanding of the relation between form and function of the penis.

Dartos muscle

Penile skin has two important characteristics, apparent only on erection. Firstly penile skin tenses, stiffens and shortens, firming up the connection between shaft skin and ridged band. This change allows for the transmission of movement from the base of the erect penis to the ridged band.

Secondly, penile skin undergoes a marked frictional change, brought about by stiff, forward-pointing skin folds. The mechanism is similar to that which raises goosebumps.

The changes in penile skin are brought about by contraction of the Dartos muscle. Between them, stiffening and frictionality ensure that the ridged band is instantly alerted to changes in position of the penis within the vagina.

Why two layers?

The double-layering of the foreskin allows the delicate ridged band, which normally is safely hidden from view, to be deployed on the upper surface of the penile shaft during erection. There it stands a better chance of being activated. Double-layering also eases vaginal entry by offsetting the frictional resistance of erect shaft skin.

Summary

The various parts of the penis, including the foreskin, form a functional whole. The foreskin is the primary sensory tissue of the penis. The ridged band of the foreskin is built to trigger orgasm and ejaculation.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• penis
• foreskin
• genital
• integrity
• gay
• lesbian
• bisexual
• transgender
• human
• rights
• san
• francisco
• pride
• parade
• BANG
• Bay
• Area
• iNtactivst
• Group
• circumcision
• sexual
• mutilation
• child
• abuse

[MrSjsharky408]

I think parents should leave their little boys the way they were born

[Hugh7777]

What a great time! Wish I was there! And so many people got the message - even the "chop it" woman moved to a "maybe". Interesting the outsider penis-costume guy's take on "integrity". Maybe "genital autonomy" might be clearer?

[ninjastealth86]

@lushusbst My guess it that to create an intact penis costume that shows that the organ is erect but the foreskin strected back would be too diffucult.

[kotfrank]

This was fun. Came away with a feeling of perfection. Centered. All are welcomed to join us next year. Bay Area INtactivists (facebook) Group

We needed more people to pass out flyers.

[kotfrank]

@MetalGearNaked Liberty of person, autonomy. Free from force circumcision.

[TLCTugger]

Video says com instead of org for IntactAmerica web site.

[MetalGearNaked]

OK, circumcision is really wrong, and I'm a libertarian as well but

Dressing up as the statue of liberty? WTF man, WTF?

[perthfem]

Excellent!!!

[enithhernandez]

just wanted to write WOW! I love how the people reacted, I got the GOOSE BUMPS!!!

[Bonobo3D]

There was lots of discussion about this. The costumes are generic. Ribbons were added to represent the rigged band. Contrary to some misconceptions many of the people marching and speaking out for genital integrity were circumcised as children and pissed off about it.

[enginger]

Thanks!