Below are three sample letters you can cut and paste and send to your representatives in Congress. Feel free to use them as is or personalize if you want. Send these either via email or postal mail (preferred).

If you would like to share the letters you write, please send us a copy via email and we will post them as an inspiration for others to read and maybe get ideas from.

Letter One---use if appropriate

Dear Senator/Representative__________________,

The debate over gay marriage has focused on opponents claiming that marriage is reserved for one man-one woman. For thousands of intersex people, including myself, the binary of male or female is not easily defined. Intersex is a medical term used to describe people born with non-standard reproductive or chromosomal make-up. I am concerned about what criteria will be used to define male and female in any constitutional amendments or legislation that may be introduced on this issue.

Some intersex people such as myself have a chromosomal makeup that varies from the standard XX for female and XY for male. If male and female is determined by the presence of standard sex differentiation markers such as XX or XY, what will happen to those people who are XXY or XXXY? While some intersex people may identify as homosexual, many identify as heterosexual. Attempting to define in law what it means to be a man or a woman could have serious negative consequences on heterosexual intersex people and may actually prohibit them from heterosexual marriage.

I hope you will take some time to learn how any legislation that attempts to define male and female for the purpose of marriage will impact the thousands of intersex people in this country and in your district. You can learn more about intersexuality by visiting the web sites of Bodies Like Ours at http://www.bodieslikeours.org or The Intersex Society of North America at http://www.isna.org.

Sincerely,

(your name and address here)

Letter Two---Works for everyone

Dear Senator/Representative ___________________,

I am watching with concern the current debate over marriage for gays and lesbians. Despite all the rhetoric on both sides, I have yet to see any clear thoughts on how male and female will be defined in a proposed constitutional amendment limiting marriage to between a man and a woman. For the thousands of intersex people in the USW, this is an area of grave concern. Intersex is a medical term used to describe people born with a non-standard reproductive or chromosomal make-up.

Depending on how legislation seeks to define male and female, thousands of heterosexual intersex people may be denied the right to marry that they now have. Despite your feelings on the issue of same-sex marriage, this is unacceptable collateral damage.

I hope you will take some time to learn how any legislation that attempts to define male and female for the purpose of marriage will impact the thousands of intersex people in the US and in your district. You can learn more about intersexuality by visiting the web sites of Bodies Like Ours at http://www.bodieslikeours.org or The Intersex Society of North America at http://www.isna.org.

Sincerely,

(your name and address here)

Letter Three--For Everyone

Dear Senator/Representative_________________________

I am concerned about the debate surrounding marriage for gays and lesbians and the prospect of a constitutional amendment declaring marriage to be between a man and a woman.

During this debate, have you given any thought about how male and female will be defined? There are thousands of intersex people in this country (and certainly many in your district) who may not fit into the standard XX or XY binary. Intersex, in case you are not familiar with it, is a medical term used to describe people born with variant reproductive or chromosomal make-up that differs from standard male or female. For more information about intersex people, visit the websites of Bodies Like Ours at http://www.bodieslikeours.org or the Intersex Society of North America at http://www.isna.org.

Regardless of your stance on this issue, it is important that any legislation that may be introduced attempting to limit marriage as between a male and female take into consideration those who may not fit the standard definitions.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

(your name and address here)