Morgan
03-24-06, 10:55 PM
There's a lot happening in Australia...
This isn't intended to compete with BLO, which is US/global in perspective, but a couple of us have gotten together to try and get some open discussion going within Australia.
http://intersexaustralia.org
We’re a small group of people who have intersex conditions. We haven’t been elected by anyone, and we’re not part of any lobbying group, campaign or party. We’ve started this website for several reasons, but mainly because we want to speak for ourselves.
Despite the statistics (ISNA US figures), we seem few and far between. We want to create a forum where people with intersex conditions - in all our diversity - can meet, talk, vent, ask for help and give it.
We’re affected by the successful lobbying of a few other individuals for the inclusion of a separate “intersex” category in the next Australian census. The identities of intersex people vary from male to female to anything in between. Sex, gender and identity are different things. While some of us would prefer to tick an “intersex” box or write it in, most of us are happy to tick “female” or “male” and use the related pronouns. While respecting the diversity in our identities, how much of a priority should this be, when “normative” surgeries are still routinely carried out without informed consent? And what should a third category and legal definitions of intersex mean for us in the future?
We’re affected by the decisions of other people to include an “I” in “LGBTQ”. While we support equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people, we believe that intersex issues are different. The intersex category is often included in a misguided attempt to be inclusive, but without any understanding of our issues. And most intersex people identify as heterosexual.
We hope to promote dialogue with other intersex people living in Australia, and provide a source of good information on intersex issues for everyone else. One of the key issues affecting people with intersex conditions is childhood surgery. Other issues faced by intersex people are childhood and adult healthcare, and discrimination.
Become a contributor - if you’d like to write something for inclusion here, then let us know. We’d be happy to publish guest pieces on intersex issues. You don’t need to be a good writer, we can help you edit if you wish, as long as your words stay your own.
This isn't intended to compete with BLO, which is US/global in perspective, but a couple of us have gotten together to try and get some open discussion going within Australia.
http://intersexaustralia.org
We’re a small group of people who have intersex conditions. We haven’t been elected by anyone, and we’re not part of any lobbying group, campaign or party. We’ve started this website for several reasons, but mainly because we want to speak for ourselves.
Despite the statistics (ISNA US figures), we seem few and far between. We want to create a forum where people with intersex conditions - in all our diversity - can meet, talk, vent, ask for help and give it.
We’re affected by the successful lobbying of a few other individuals for the inclusion of a separate “intersex” category in the next Australian census. The identities of intersex people vary from male to female to anything in between. Sex, gender and identity are different things. While some of us would prefer to tick an “intersex” box or write it in, most of us are happy to tick “female” or “male” and use the related pronouns. While respecting the diversity in our identities, how much of a priority should this be, when “normative” surgeries are still routinely carried out without informed consent? And what should a third category and legal definitions of intersex mean for us in the future?
We’re affected by the decisions of other people to include an “I” in “LGBTQ”. While we support equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people, we believe that intersex issues are different. The intersex category is often included in a misguided attempt to be inclusive, but without any understanding of our issues. And most intersex people identify as heterosexual.
We hope to promote dialogue with other intersex people living in Australia, and provide a source of good information on intersex issues for everyone else. One of the key issues affecting people with intersex conditions is childhood surgery. Other issues faced by intersex people are childhood and adult healthcare, and discrimination.
Become a contributor - if you’d like to write something for inclusion here, then let us know. We’d be happy to publish guest pieces on intersex issues. You don’t need to be a good writer, we can help you edit if you wish, as long as your words stay your own.