Georgia House Outlaws Genital Piercing For Women

Associated Press, March 25, 2004

ATLANTA -- Genital piercings for women were banned by the Georgia House
as lawmakers considered a bill outlining punishments for female genital
mutilation.The bill would make such mutilation punishable by two to 20 years in
prison. It makes no exception for people who give consent to have the
procedure performed on their daughters out of religious or cultural custom.

An amendment adopted without objection added "piercing" to the list of
things that may not be done to female genitals. Even adult women would
not be allowed to get the procedure. The bill eventually passed 160-0,
with no debate.

Amendment sponsor Rep. Bill Heath, R-Bremen, was slack-jawed when told
after the vote that some adults seek the piercings.

"What? I've never seen such a thing," Heath said. "I, uh, I wouldn't
approve of anyone doing it. I don't think that's an appropriate thing to
be doing."

The ban applies only to women, not men. The bill has already been
approved by the Senate but now must return to that chamber because of
the piercing amendment. Both chambers of the Legislature must agree on a
single version of a bill before it can go to the governor for final
approval.