Word of the Gay: "Hermaphroditism"

"Hermaphroditism" is the fusion of male and female genitalia on an individual. It is biologically impossible for someone to have complete male and female genitalia, rendering the word unfounded and offensive.

Word of the Gay: "Two-Sex Being"

A "two-sex being" refers to intersex or hermaphroditic people. Many "two-sex beings" were represented in Hellenistic and Roman art and culture.

Word of the Gay: "Hermaphroditus Verus"

"Hermaphroditus Verus" is a medical term for intersex people possessing both male and female gonads.

Mapping Gender Neutral/Unisex Restrooms

Transgender, Genderqueer, and Intersexual folks often face difficult decisions when it comes to something as simple as going to the restroom. They face the reality of being attacked, discriminated against, arrested, or feeling very uncomfortable when choosing a bathroom that is specified for a specific gender.

Now, thanks to the Safe2Pee Resource, gender variant people can find gender neutral/unisex bathrooms around the world. You can also add any bathrooms to the database that would be suitable.

"The goal of the project is to create a resource where people who do not feel comfortable with traditional public restrooms can find safe alternatives, and to support advocacy and research to further the cause of gender free, inclusive bathrooms."

Open Forum: Is Thomas Beatie a Hermaphrodite by Choice?

The word hermaphrodite is mythological and it describes someone who is both fully male and female. This is a biological impossibility.

However, with the case of Thomas Beatie, the "pregnant man" it brings into question whether someone who elects to go through some sex-altering procedures could be classified as a hermaphrodite.

Thomas Beatie is a female to male transsexual. He has removed his breasts, gone on testosterone, and as a result has develop more masculinized features. He has opted to keep his vagina, and uterus so he can give birth.

The testosterone has helped his clitoris grow into a penis. Essentially Thomas Beatie does have both a penis and a vagina, which by birth is impossible but through surgery can become a reality.

Does this make Thomas Beatie a hermaphrodite? Would a trans person who fits in this category find the term offensive if the term hermaphrodite was used in a different context to reflect this modern phenomenon?

Word of the Gay: "Futanari"

"Futanari" is an animation form that depicts intersex people and hermaphrodites. The term in Japanese means two-form.

Diversity Lesson 101: Intersexuality

Intersexuality is a very misunderstood minority with very little scientific research or cultural and educational awareness on this group of individuals who suffer enormously at the expense of society and the medical establishment.

Intersexuality is when individuals are neither exclusively male or female. People who are born intersex may have differing degrees of being both male and female, internally, externally, or both. Typically society has regarded these individuals as “hermaphrodites” but this term is offensive and incorrect. A hermaphrodite would be someone who was fully man and woman, this is a biological impossibility, and as such we must refer to those with amibiguous genitalia as intersexual. Intersexuality is described by the medical establishment as a biological disorder, there is a growing movement of Queer/Intersexual activists who seek to remove this stigma, and say this is NOT disorder but a variation of the complex diversity that exists within gender.

Our society is so fully constructed in a gender binary system, believing everyone is either 100% male or female that we often ridicule those who don’t quite fall into one of those two categories. Intersexuals are often genitally mutilated by their doctors with the permission of their parents from a young age, to pre-determine their gender as either male or female. This is a terrible and painful procedure that often results in gender identity confusion growing up, leftover scars, and feeling incomplete as an individual. Studies have shown that many intersexuals who were left as they were made, grow up to be healthy and productive individuals in society as the third gender they really are. Some adults choose to go for surgery to match their genitalia/organs with the gender they more closely identify with, but this is their decision to make as an adult and not one for the medical community.

Intersexuality is nothing new it has been around since the dawn of time, but now with the internet and people speaking up the subject is gaining visibility and as such it is imperative the Queer community stand up for this small segment of our community who desperately needs our help.

As activists we can seek to educate ourselves and others about people who are intersexual and break the stigma associated with being born an intersexual. We can also follow closely the events and action alerts on this site and others listed where we can help the intersexual community gain acceptance as well as put an end to these horrific surgical procedures that are unnecessary and result in major difficulties later on in life.

Please post your thoughts on the subject and let me know any action alerts that I should post in the struggle for intersexual liberation.

Short Clips on Intersexuality:







Intersexual Resources:

Intersex Society of North America

Organization Intersex International

Intersex Initiative

Intersex Initiative

Intersex Community Forums

Word of the Gay: "Hermaphrodite"

The word "Hermaphrodite" is mythological and it describes someone who is both fully male and female. This is a biological impossibility. The correct term for someone who has a combination of both male and female parts is Intersex. The term "Hermaphrodite" and "Pseudo-Hermaphrodite" are offensive and stigmatizing terms. Some IS activists seek to reclaim the word as a source of empowerment much like Queer and Dyke have been reclaimed, however, reclaiming of the word has not been driven by much success thus far.

Organization Spotlight: Intersex Society of North America

Pride Graphics by HitupMyspace.com

I am introducing a new type of posting that I will be doing from time to time which is highlighting organizations that serve the Queer community, these are organizations which have resources for us, advocate for us, and are worth checking out and donating to.

Today, I wanted to give a shout out to the Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) which works tirelessly for the rights of intersexual individuals (people born with ambiguous genitalia who are not male or female). ISNA advocates for change within the medical establishment which currently deals with intersex children by assigning them a gender the doctor and parents feel is reflective of the child. The child often undergoes "cosmetic surgery". Intersexual children face many difficulties later in life such as gender identity issues, depression, and suicidal tendencies because of these surgeries. ISNA advocates for allowing the child to choose their gender and to make the decision if they want surgery as an adult. Many people choose to remain intersexual and not undergo surgery and can live healthy and productive lives. Please check out their website and learn more about Intersexuality, and what you can do to to be a better advocate for this community!

Intersex Society of North America