The Atlantic questions “fixing’ intersex children

This piece examines the practice of surgically attempting to “fix” intersex babies and minors — a.k.a. intersex genital mutiltion/IGM – and the current legal case of the rawford family, who is suing the doctors who operated on their intersex son before they adopted him, and the state of South Carolina (his legal guardians at the…

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OII Australia VP Tony Briffa tells story of self discovery

“Proud intersex person Tony Briffa tells story of self discovery“, features an interview with OII-Australia Vice President Tony Briffa. Briffa, who made headlines when they became the world’s firt openly intersex publicly elected official, says, “I feel very comfortable having accepted my true self and that I’m not male or female, but both. …I’m now…

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Viloria on intersex people & identity politics in The Advocate

  http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2014/05/14/op-ed-whats-name-intersex-and-identity  This latest essay by OII-USA Director Hida Viloria  — What’s in a Name: Intersex and Idenity – examines the history of the LGBTI community being pathologized, and how intersex people are still being impacted by this. Many thanks to The Advocate for helping raise awareness.

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Council of Europe’s statement on intersex people’s need for equal rights!

In recognition of the upcoming International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on May 17th, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights has released the statement, A boy or a girl or a person — intersex people lack recognition in Europe. The statement examines the intense difficulties and human rights abuses  — such as “normalizing”…

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Essay on menstruation while being intersex by Astorino in Autostraddle

“Lessons Learned From Menstruation Pop Quizzes While Being Intersex” is an insightful and often hysterical account of  Claudia’s experience around menstruation as an AIS intersex woman who doesn’t menstruate.  I can’t help but admit that sometimes, when I’m saddled with menstrual cramps, I’m a bit envious! http://www.autostraddle.com/lessons-learned-from-menstruation-pop-quizzes-while-being-intersex-201027/

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OII Australia’s Morgan Carpenter published in ABC’s The Drum regarding groundbreaking Australian Senate’s statement on medical treatment of intersex children

OII Australia President Morgan Carpenter’s essay, “It’s Time to Defend Intersex Rights”, explores why “normalizing” surgeries on intersex babies and children must end, and the recent Australian Senate report “Involuntary or coerced sterilization of intersex people in Australia”. Note, this groundbreaking report is based directly on submissions by OII Australia. To read more about the…

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AIC’s Anne Tamar-Mattis on concerns with Germany’s third gender law, & AIC’s intersex lawsuit

Anne Tamar-Mattis, Executive Director of Advocates for Informed Choice (AIC), a US intersex advocacy organization focusing on legal issues for intersex children, was interviewed on Berkeley California’s KPFA radio regarding Germany’s third gender law, and shared similar concerns as those expressed by OII Chair/OII-USA Director Hida Viloria, and German intersex advocates. She also discusses the…

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Germany’s New Third Gender Law Places Intersex Babies at Risk

[We would like to note a correction to this original post: some intersex advocates were consulted in the creation of this new law, but their concerns were not addressed by it.] Germany’s new third gender law becomes effective today, and has been hailed as a groundbreaking advancement for intersex people, but every intersex advocacy organization…

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Viloria in The Advocate on “Why We Need to Protect Intersex Babies”

We’re very pleased that The Advocate has shown a continuing interest in educating its many readers on intersex issues!  The essay not only educates regarding the discrimination and harm involved in non-medically necessary cosmetic genital surgery and sex reassignment of intersex babies (a.k.a. “Intersex Genital Mutilation”/IGM), but helps people understand and make important decisions about…

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