Intersex Peer Support - Bodies Like Ours

San Francisco Report Addresses Human Rights Violations of Intersex People

Today (05/03/2005) the San Francisco Human Rights Commission (SF HRC) released a report entitled, "A Human Rights Investigation into the Medical "Normalization" of Intersex People".

This long-awaited document examines the way intersex is treated in American hospitals and by society.  A critical examination of the current standards, the report is based upon testimony of those born with intersex, their families, ethicists, scholars, and medical professionals.  It puts forth a number of recommendations for change in areas the commissioners agreed are serious human rights violations.  These recommendations include suggestions to medical facilities on improving the care of those with intersex entrusted to their care. According to the SF HRC, ""Normalizing" interventions done without the patient's informed consent are inherent human rights abuses."

The report was years in the making.  On May 27th, 2004, a public hearing was held by the SF HRC.  People with intersex, their families, and numerous experts testified about their experiences and expertise which was summarized in the report and based upon it, a number of findings and recommendations were reached.  Representatives from several intersex organizations were involved in entire process and the planning and issuance of the report.

The impact of the report is expected by intersex advocates to be wide-ranging and influential. According to Cheryl Chase, Director of the Intersex Society of North America, "No longer should we be lied to, displayed, be injected with hormones for questionable purposes, and have our genitals cut to alleviate the anxieties of parents and doctors. Doctors' good intentions are not enough. Practices must now change."

Betsy Driver of Bodies Like Ours adds, "For decades, people with intersex have had their basic human rights trampled by well meaning physicians who felt that we could not be allowed to grow up in the body we were born with. This report recognizes this and is the first step in reclaiming our bodies and protecting those born with intersex against further human rights violations."

Intersex advocates and human rights leaders believe this report will lead to wide-ranging systemic change in medical facilities across the US. It is expected some facilities will immediately respond to the report by exploring how they can adapt some of the recommendations in their own policies.  It is the intention of intersex advocates to share the report with their local human rights commissions to request they too consider adopting a similar stance to protect and preserve the basic rights of their constituents born with intersex.

We have prepared an extensive online area of resources, information, and experts that available for comment which may be helpful to you in learning more about the San Francisco report, background information, and story ideas for jounalists.  You can find it at  http://www.bodieslikeours.org/content/view/295/183/