Intersex Definition

NTERSEX is congenital difference NTERSEX is not a gender nor a gender in anatomical sex. That is, physical identity. Gender is social sex role. Our Idifferences in reproductive Isex is generally male and female and our parts like the testicles, penis, vulva, social roles are generally man and woman. clitoris, ovaries and so on. Our sex is about our anatomy – however Intersex is also physical differences naturally constructed and medically in secondary sexual characteristics reinvented that might be – and our gender such as muscle mass, hair distribution, is how we act out social expectations given breast development and stature. our anatomy. Intersex individuals have Intersex can include things that are genders of all kinds including no gender. invisible to the eye such as chromosomal Gender is generally an identity issue. and hormonal differences. Those kinds of differences usually have a manifestation in NTERSEX is not an identity issue. primary or secondary sexual anatomy that Intersex is differences in anatomy. is visible either externally or internally. I Most people with intersex differences Brain differences may account for do not know they have them. Such both homosexuality and transsexualism, people have no way of identifying as but intersex isn’t brain sex alone. intersex or any reason to do so. They We are intersex because it is thought have intersex differences nonetheless. the kinds of differences in our anatomy seem to be either male and female OU might think intersex must at the same time or not quite male or female or neither male or female. have at least something to do with So we have physical differences Y identity and you would be right. that confuse medicine’s anatomical So imagine a person with one blue eye ideal of male and female. and one brown eye. Such a person might Intersex is not always immediately seek out other like people and form an apparent because in our society association. They might do this for any we do not commonly look at each number of reasons including marginalization other's genitals or internal organs. and discrimination. They might do it just to meet some one else with the same What isn’t intersex? kinds of differences they have. They might even go so far as to make that a significant NTERSEX is not a sexual orientation. part of how they identify themselves. Although nearly all intersex have Whatever they do, if they make it a a sexual orientation, we are no part of their identity or not, if they are I marked out by society or not, if they different to other people in this. It is unknown if our intersex influences form an association or not, they have our sexual orientation and intersex resist one blue eye and one brown eye and efforts by researchers who seek to link only eye removal will change that. the two. We do this because we hold Even if they have their eyes removed the view that it is a back door way to the reasons for them having one brown find the gay gene. We hold the view that eye and one blue eye remaining will be this effort is essentially homophobic. written in their bodies, in their genes.

Organisation Intersex International Australia Limited Page 1 NTERSEX is not a medical condition or Very few infants have health What is the difference ••Transsexual people generally a disorder or a disability or a pathology problems because of their intersex between a TRANS, transsexual have a strongly defined sense Ior a condition of any sort. Intersex is anatomical differences. or transgender person of gender – man or woman. differences in the same way height, weight, Intersex surgery seeks to make the child & an intersex person? hair colour and so on are differences. a penetrator or penetratee with the aim •• Can compete in sport up to Only a very few ways of being intersex of heterosexual intercourse as an adult. NTERSEX is not a part of and including Olympic level have links to differences that might Intersex who go on to live in what transgender because intersex is through established protocols. cause illness. cah is the most common. appear to be same sex relationships are Inot about gender. Intersex is about Strangely very few cah individuals are thought to be a failure of assignment. The anatomical differences in sex. •• Many effective and extensive intersex despite it being classified by underlying paradigm of such surgery is Below are some of the differences in the organizations worldwide with some medicine as a way of being intersex. homophobic. The alarm created when experience of trans and intersex individuals. NGOs attracting government funding We know of no xy cah individuals who are an intersex child is born centres around (e.g. NSW Gender Centre). intersex. We know most xx cah individuals whether the child will grow up to be a man Trans: are females capable of having a child, and or a woman and if they are neither then •• Self-identified gender does not Intersex: have very few anatomical differences of sex. what kind of sexual role would they play? match apparent sex at birth. •• Natural variation in biological sex does In more ancient times intersex were often not match social expectations of normality. Some intersex people have very consigned to monasteries and convents •• Some human rights protection. In NSW striking differences in anatomical where celibacy resolved the issue. this is limited to "recognised transgender" •• No recognition in human rights or presentation but they are usually or people thought to be "transgendered" other law. No inclusion in workplace very healthy and able people. NTERSEX people want client- - 36B Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. programs like Pride in Diversity. centred medicine. Current medical HERE are lots of things Iprotocols centre around binary •• Can change cardinal documents, but •• If desired, can change cardinal ideals of male and female. usually requires irreversible surgeries documents in New South Wales, Victoria intersex is not. Intersex differences are very often usually involving sterilization and and Queensland on evidence of intersex If you keep it in the forefront ignored or overlooked. Where intersex applicants must not be married. status, due to error on birth certificate. Tof your mind that intersex is a physical differences are taken into account very difference then you can easily dismiss often the protocols are one size-fits-all ••The right to marry someone of •• Physical differences affect the those nonphysical things that some with very poorly researched outcomes. the opposite legal gender. whole of the body including brain might suppose are a part of intersex. Some examples of wrong-headed anatomy and especially sex anatomy. diagnostic paradigms are: •• A full and functional What do intersex people want? reproductive system. •• Apart from extremely rare circumstances, •• All xx cah individuals are female. unable to reproduce because of physical ECOGNITION of intersex •• All xxy individuals are male. •• Physical differences limited differences in reproductive parts. differences – that the ideal of the •• All ais individuals are female. to brain anatomy. sex binary is flawed, that male and R •• All 5-ard individuals are male. •• No right to marriage as intersex. female are not absolute terms and that ••Transsexual people have an effective The right to marry someone of insistence on sex binaries stigmatizes All of those statements are untrue. medical protocol that produces a the opposite legal gender. and marginalizes those who do not fit. Consequently when an xxy individual is 98% effective outcome with long- treated they will be offered testosterone “to term studies and follow-ups. •• A jumble of medical protocols NTERSEX people want equal rights at make a man of them” causing great distress with mixed outcomes that are law. We want protection in human rights and often dreadful medical consequences. •• Good medication readily available poorly understood with nearly against discrimination and vilification. I through the PBS (Pharmaceutical no long-term follow up. We want laws to reflect the reality of NTERSEX people want financial Benefits Scheme) that is both our bodies so that an intersex person can assistance from governments to effective and adequate. •• Only some medication have access to marriage, superannuation, establish peer support networks available through pbs. insurance and all the things available to I to help achieve our needs. ••The right to choose the time of males and females. Intersex people want surgery with extensive peer support. •• Very little research, and nearly equal rights without having to pretend no access to well-studied and our bodies are really male or female. ••The ability to participate fully appropriate medications. and in an informed manner in their NTERSEX people want an end to surgical and hormonal options. •• Insistence on inappropriate and harmful nonconsensual infant surgery. Infant medication when individuals do not genital surgery is conducted to “cure” I conform with diagnosis expectations. the infant of intersex differences. The aim of this surgery is cosmetic.

Organisation Intersex Organisation Intersex Page 2 International Australia Limited International Australia Limited Page 3 •• Administration of harmful drugs to pregnant women in an effort to prevent intersex births with a possible outcome of brain damage to the unborn.

•• Only some medication available through PBS.

•• Enforced surgery with little information available, without peer support and with scant knowledge in respect of outcomes.

•• Often surgery is conducted without consent.

•• Protocols for competition in sport are just being established, due to the treatment of Caster Semenya.

•• Weak sense of gender – man or woman.

•• Very few intersex organizations worldwide, with none receiving any government funding. u

Website: oiiaustralia.com

Organisation Intersex Page 4 International Australia Limited