Intersex Awareness Day - October 26th

Image description: Blog banner that has text “Intersex Awareness Day - October 26”. Background is different colour yellow triangles and two large purple circles.

October 26 is Intersex Awareness Day. We’ve gathered some resources and facts to learn more!

Intersex?

“The I in LGBTQIA+ stands for “intersex.”

Intersex is an umbrella term for differences in sex traits or reproductive anatomy. Intersex people are born with these differences or develop them in childhood. There are many possible differences in genitalia, hormones, internal anatomy, or chromosomes, compared to the usual two ways that human bodies develop.

Some intersex traits are noticed at birth. Others don’t show up until puberty or later in life. Intersex people often face shame—or are forced or coerced into changing their bodies, usually at a very young age. Most surgeries to change intersex traits happen in infancy.

The word intersex also invokes a community. Intersex people are diverse, coming from all socioeconomic backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders and orientations, faiths, and political ideologies. We are united by

1. our experiences living with variations in our sex traits,

2. the belief that these differences are a natural part of human diversity,

3. the idea that people deserve their own choices about their own bodies.”

• From InterACT

“Often, intersex people get surgeries that they don’t want and transgender people have to fight for surgeries they do want.”

— Saifa

InterFacts

• About 1.7% of people are born intersex.

• Compared to a ~0.3% chance of having identical twins!

• 1 in 2,000 babies (0.05% of humans) are born with genital differences that a doctor might suggest changing with unnecessary surgery.

• Being intersex is a common as having red hair or green eyes

  • From InterACT

• 30 organisations came together to draw up the Malta Declaration, highlighting the demands and recommendations of the international intersex movement.

  • From Amnesty International

• There are at least 40 distinct different intersex variations

  • From Intersex Human Rights Australia

What happens when someone is born intersex?

“Most of the time when a baby is born intersex, doctors and the family decide on a sex, either male or female, and raise the baby as the gender expected of that sex. It’s pretty common for surgery to be done on the baby’s genitals and also for the child to be given hormones to make them fit into male/female categories as they go through puberty.  

But activism by and for intersex people is growing, leading to some changes in our culture, which right now treats intersex as a medical problem instead of a natural, healthy way bodies can be. Today, more and more people believe unnecessary surgery and other medical interventions shouldn’t be done on intersex babies and children at all. Instead, intersex people should be able to decide for themselves when they’re older if they want treatment or surgery.

If you have a child who’s intersex, the best thing you can do is support them and love them for who they are. It’s also a good idea to find some support from other parents with children who are intersex, and make sure your child has opportunities to connect with other children who are intersex.”

• From Planned Parenthood

Is intersex a gender identity?

“Not strictly, just like people with a non-intersex body, people with intersex variation can have many different gender identities. Many intersex people consider intersex to be something that a medical professional assigned or diagnosed them with and therefore do not consider it an identity.

What are the differences between intersex and trans people?

Intersex variation is a medical diagnosis that indicates someone’s sex characteristics do not conform to medical and societal expectations of what bodies look like.

• Trans people have a gender identity that is not the same as the sex they were assigned at birth.

• Intersex people are subjected to non-consensual and harmful surgeries and drugs.

• Trans people often seek surgical changes and hormone therapy, yet they may have a hard time getting the medical attention they need.”

  • From Egale

Intersex Myths

1. Everybody is either born male or female

2. Being intersex is very rare

3. Being intersex is a condition that needs to be corrected

4. Intersex people are transgender

5. No one is speaking out for intersex people

• Bust all of these myths at Amnesty International

“Many people I know really like their intersex body. It’s the expectations from people around them that makes things hard.”

— Steph

Take Action

Image description: Screenshot of a tweet from Kira-Lynn Ferderber (@cupcakes_n_rap) with text, “This is already my pinned tweet but today is #IntersexAwarenessDay. I know parents-to-be, especially moms, get too much unsolicited advice, but at baby showers where you are asked your advice, you can share that early surgical intervention is not needed for most intersex infants!

Image description: Screenshot of a tweet from Kira-Lynn Ferderber (@cupcakes_n_rap) with text, ‘Your mission in life: make sure that at every baby shower you go to you remind the room not to cut up a baby born intersex.’

Image description: Infographic with central text, ‘Be an intersex ally’ and text in petals around the centre: ‘Leave brochures at your doctor’s office or workplace.’ ‘Read an intersex book or watch a film.’ ‘Give an intersex person a small kind gesture.’ ‘Donate to an intersex-led organization.’ ‘Learn about intersex surgery and bodily autonomy.’ ‘Organize a protest in your community.’ ‘De-gender your language around body parts.’ ‘Education one person in your life about intersex.’

1. Kira-Lynn Ferderber has one action everyone can take to support intersex folks: start convos with pregnant folks about being ready to welcome an intersex baby and to learn more from intersex folks that surgical intervention is often not needed for intersex infants.

2. Chose a couple of the 26 Way Allies Can Support on Intersex Awareness Day by InterACT

3. Intersex for Allies by Intersex Human Rights Australia including, “Ally with our [Intersex Human Rights Australia] call to prohibit harmful practices on infants, children and adolescents born with variations of sex characteristics.”

4. Get prepared to confront stigma by reading up on Intersex FAQ by InterACT

5. Learn more about ‘Supporting Your Intersex Child’ by Egale

6. Learn more about ‘Supporting Intersex Inclusion in the Workplace’ by InterACT and Out & Equal

7. Medical folks can learn what ‘Affirming Primary Care for Intersex People (A Guide for Doctors)’ by InterACT

8. Parents can read ‘Supporting Your Intersex Child - A Parent’s Toolkit’ by Organization Intersex International Europe