Five Myths that Hurt Intersex People

Intersex people are often shunned, shamed and made to feel invisible in a society that only thinks of sex as being solely male or female. The Intersex Roadshow compiled a list of common myths.

Myth 1: Intersex people all have intermediate genitalia

Myth 2: Intersex conditions are always diagnosed in infancy

Myth 3: All infant sex-assignment surgery is aimed at creating “female” genitalia

Myth 4: Intersex people should be genderqueer

Myth 5: “Real” intersex people are not genderqueer

Check out the link above for stories and accurate information countering these myths.

Open Forum: Intersex Experiences

People who are intersex, having been born with male and female sexual characteristics and/or organs face many challenges in their lives. From birth many are operated on in an effort to make their ambiguous genitalia fit the binary system of male or female. Some intersex people struggle with transitioning gender, while others find acceptance difficult in a society that doesn't understand or accept people who are born in between the sexes.

Intersex perspectives range from those who consider themselves having been born into a third sex, to others who consider it a medical condition that needs treatment. Some see an intersection between intersexuality and the queer/transgender movement while others feel their identity has nothing to do with the LGBT movement and resent being lumped in to this struggle.

What are your experiences as an intersex person, or someone who knows or loves someone who is intersex? What goes through your mind when choosing a dressing room, bathroom, or any other facility that is segregated by gender? Do you identify with one gender or embrace a dual-gender as part of your intersex identity?

Word of the Gay: "IGM"

"IGM" is an acronym that stands for infant or intersex genital mutilation. This often unnecessary and invasive medical procedure is done on many intersex babies in order to assign them one sex.

Open Forum: (LGBTI) The Intersexual Intersection?

In recent years there has been a growing movement to add intersexuality to the growing LGBT acronymn with some approving and disapproving of such a measure. Intersex refers to a series of medical conditions in which a persons genetic sex (chromosomes) and phenotypic sex (genital appearance) do not match, or are somehow different from the "standard" male or female. Most intersex babies are genitally mutilated and either never find out or discover that doctors changed their birth sex later in life. Some of these individuals identify as male or female, and some elect to transition to the gender they feel more comfortable with while others identify their gender as being intersex and are fully comfortable being in between or neither male nor female.

The contention over whether intersex should be lumped into the broader LGBT spectrum is causing controversy in both camps. There are those who argue that intersex is a medical and biological issue separate from the issues faced by other queer people. There also are those who argue that gay and transgender identity is not simply psychologically based, but also has roots in our biological makeup. Common to all of these identities is that we are neither hetero nor cisnormative and we all have to come to terms with ourselves, whether it be coming out to others or to ourselves about who we really are. We all also face discrimination on the basis that we do not fit the standard mold of gender, sex, and sexuality.

Does the nature versus nurture debate even matter when it comes to who is included in the sexual and gender diversity spectrum? Do you feel there are similarities between some aspects of the intersex and other LGBT communities or are they so far apart that they must be considered separate social and political issues?

Intersex Awareness Day (10.26.09)

Oct 26th marks the 5th annual celebrate intersexual awareness day! Today is the (inter)national day of grass-roots action to end shame, secrecy and unwanted genital cosmetic surgeries on intersex children.

What is intersex?
Intersex refers to a series of medical conditions in which a child's genetic sex (chromosomes) and phenotypic sex (genital appearance) do not match, or are somehow different from the "standard" male or female. About one in 2,000 babies are born visibly intersexed, while some others are detected later. The current medical protocol calls for the surgical "reconstruction" of these different but healthy bodies to make them "normal," but this practice has become increasingly controversial as adults who went through the treatment report being physically, emotionally, and sexually harmed by such procedures.

Beside stopping cosmetic genital surgeries, what are intersex activists working toward?
Surgery is just part of a larger pattern of how intersex children are treated; it is also important to stop shame, secrecy and isolation that are socially and medically imposed on children born with intersex conditions under the theory that the child is better off it they didn't hear anything about it. Therefore, it's not enough to simply stop the surgery; we need to replace it with social and psychological support as well as open and honest communication.

What's so significant about October 26?
On October 26, 1996, intersex activists from Intersex Society of North America (carrying the sign "Hermaphrodites With Attitude") and our allies from Transexual Menace held the first public intersex demonstration in Boston, where American Academy of Pediatrics was holding its annual conference. The action generated a lot of press coverage, and made it difficult for the medical community to continue to neglect our growing movement. That said, events related to Intersex Awareness Day can take place throughout October and does not necessarily have to be on the 26th.

Ideas for Action:

Pamphlets for organizing intersex awareness day.

Click here to print out some articles to leaflet on intersexuality

Get some friends together and rally/demonstrate in front of a hospital or medical school demanding an end to genital mutilation!

Show a film or invite a guest speaker to speak about IS issues.

Learn more and get active with the Intersex Initiative.

Gulf War Vet Discusses Being Intersex

National Geographic has put out a documentary featuring Gulf War veteran Rudy Alaniz, who discovered through an MRI that he possessed ovaries and a womb. The short clip below shows the ordeal and results that come from lies and shame perpetrated by the medical establishment.

Word of the Gay: "Intersex Surgery"

"Intersex Surgery" is a medical procedure to correct so called birth defects of people with ambiguous genitalia by the medical establishment.

Larry King: "What is Intersex?"

CNN's Larry King interviewed standup comic Kathy Griffin and they discussed a variety of topics including those significant to the LGBTQI community. King asked Griffin what that stands for, and Griffin laid out the acronymn for him.

Followed by King's comment asking "what is an intersex?" Kathy Griffin is a comedian, but Larry King is an award winning radio host. How does he not know what intersex is?

Speed up to 8:30 in the video to see the segment in question.



Contact Larry King and let him know that he has an obligation to clarify on air what intersexuality is about for his audience.