ST. CLOUD -- Is circumcision necessary for baby boys? The non-profit organization Bloodstained Men says no, it hurts and it's destructive.

St. Cloud was one of the California-based organization's stops on its recent tour across the Midwest. Nearly 20 protesters gathered on the intersection corners of Division Street and Highway 15 Tuesday.

Brother K is the founder of Bloodstained Men. He says there are two main facts that people need to know about circumcision, one is American parents and doctors are essentially the only ones in the world performing male circumcisions in baby boys.

"The second fact that I want parents to know is that the European medical community, a group of 38 European medical leaders got together and issued a joint statement in spring of 2013 condemning American Doctors for circumcising American boys, American babies."

When it comes to the differences between female circumcision and male circumcision, Brother K says advocates use the same arguments to defend both of them. He adds that if you look at the history of male circumcision it has little to do with hygiene.

"American doctors introduced it to the United States in the late 19th century, about 1880-1890, not as a medical procedure but as a preventive measure for adolescent boys caught masturbating, that is in the medical literature, that is a fact and people are astonished when they hear that."

Bloodstained Men will be making their way to Duluth Wednesday and wrapping up their Midwest tour with a stop in Minneapolis this Thursday. Brother K says if you're looking for resources on male circumcision you can visit the organization's website.

(Chrissy Gaetke, WJON)