On a web page dedicated to cervical cancer, the Canadian Cancer Society is apologizing for referring to the cervix by its technical name rather than euphemisms such as “front hole.”
The agency also conceded that “men can have these body parts too.”
“Trans, non-binary and gender-diverse people face significant barriers to accessing healthcare and are less likely than cisgender people to be screened for cancer,” wrote the Canadian Cancer Society in a page on cervical cancer screening for LGBTQ people.
In a “words matter” section on the organization’s official website, the Canadian Cancer Society atoned for the fact that some non-binary and transgender people might find the term “cervix” offensive and preferred to use the term “front hole” to refer to female genitalia.
“We recognize that many trans men and non-binary people may have mixed feelings about or feel distanced from words like ‘cervix.’ You may prefer other words, such as ‘front hole.’ We recognize the limitations of the words we’ve used while also acknowledging the need for simplicity,” the Canadian Cancer Society wrote.
True North reached out to the Canadian Cancer Society for comment but did not receive a response.
Women’s rights activists argue that the terminology is both objectifying and derogatory. British gender-critical writer Julie Burchill accused LGBT activists of erasing women by adopting the terms.
“Both ‘bonus hole’ and ‘front hole’ are recommended as trans-friendly alternatives to vagina. Trans ideologues have long tried to erase or appropriate any word that is specific to females – from woman to mother and now vagina. And they have gained a foothold in our schools and in our media. Now gynaecological-health providers are swallowing the stupid pills, too,” argued Burchill in a 2023 essay published to Spiked.
The term “front hole” and “bonus hole” have been popularized by LGBTQ activists as a replacement for the biologically correct term “vagina.”
In 2022, controversy erupted after the Boston Children’s Hospital used the term. Other organizations dedicated to women’s health have also adopted the offensive term.
“A transgender male teen may still have a vagina. He won’t call it a vagina. He may use the term ‘front hole’ or a different term,” said Dr. Elizabeth Boskey in a video by the hospital.
