Intersex Awareness Week

[Jolinn]

Intersex Awareness Week begins today
Events shed light on those affected by anomalies of
reproductive, sexual organs

By MELISSA B. TADDEI
(UC Davis) Aggie Staff Writer
Posted 04/25/2005

http://www.californiaaggie.com/article/?id=‡11

For most, the term "genital mutilation" evokes a mental image
of the marring of young women in Africa. But for five babies
born in the United States each day, it is also a reality.

Since the 1950s, children born with intersex conditions, or
anomalies of the reproductive and sexual organs, have received
genital reconstructive surgery. Many survivors report damage to
their emotional and sexual health, and there are limited
resources for this sector of the population.

In the hope of increasing understanding and awareness of
intersex issues, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
Resource Center will host Intersex Awareness Week, beginning
today.

"more info on the link...Have a nice day "

[Betsy]

Thanks for posting this Jolinn. The organizers sent some info for our calendar but I neglected (read:forgot) to post it.

Betsy

[CC]

http://www.californiaaggie.com/article/?id=‡11

Iwould be interested in reading the article but,the supplied link does not appear to be working,it returned the following error message

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Canice.

[Jolinn]

Sorry folks the link was working when I got it, but here is the whole deal.

For most, the term "genital mutilation" evokes a mental image
of the marring of young women in Africa. But for five babies
born in the United States each day, it is also a reality.

Since the 1950s, children born with intersex conditions, or
anomalies of the reproductive and sexual organs, have received
genital reconstructive surgery. Many survivors report damage to
their emotional and sexual health, and there are limited
resources for this sector of the population.

In the hope of increasing understanding and awareness of
intersex issues, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
Resource Center will host Intersex Awareness Week, beginning
today.

According to the Intersex Initiative, accessible online at
ipdx.org, intersex people are born with external genitalia,
internal reproductive organs, and/or endocrine systems that are
different from most other people. There is no single "intersex
body"; it encompasses a wide variety of conditions related by
their experiences with the medical establishment, not biology.

LGBTRC Director Sheri Atkinson said there is no medical reason
for reconstructive surgery at birth for those with ambiguous
genitalia. She said the real problem is shame and secrecy, and
their impact on socialization for those affected.

Today at noon in the Memorial Union Garrison Room, Thea
Hillman of the Intersex Society of North America will give a
talk titled "Building Community for Intersex People and our
Allies."

Hillman, who has an intersex condition, will share her
knowledge and insight through poetry and factual information.
She will also facilitate a dialogue on how non-intersex people
can become better allies.

Tuesday at noon in the Garrison Room, the documentary "Yellow
is for Hermaphrodites" will be screened. The documentary follows
the life of intersex activist Mani Mitchell.

The use of the term "hermaphrodite" in addressing intersex
persons is controversial. In biology, a hermaphrodite is an
organism that has both male and female sets of reproductive
organs. Some intersex activists have reclaimed and use this term
to describe themselves. In humans, however, there are no actual
hermaphrodites.

Many members of the intersex community find the term
"misleading, mythologizing and stigmatizing," according to the
Intersex Initiative.

On Wednesday at noon in the Fielder Room, there will be a
discussion titled "Adding the 'I' to LGBT," which will address
current activist projects, tools for forming alliances and
practical steps for creating change.

Thursday, the video "First Do No Harm" will be screened in the
Moss Room at noon. According to the ISNA, the video is aimed at
medical and mental health professionals, but is also accessible
to a lay audience. The screening will be followed by a
discussion facilitated by the LGBTRC staff.

Following the discussion, the documentary "XXXY" will be
shown. In this short documentary, Kristi Bruce and Howard
Devore, both born intersex, discuss the current medical model
for dealing with intersex conditions, based on forced
"normalization." Bruce and Devore argue that intersex people are
normal, but not assimilated into mainstream standards.

The week will conclude with an intersex roundtable discussion,
only open to intersex persons from noon to 2 p.m. in the Fielder
Room.

Hector Marin-Rodas, the LGBT community intern who coordinated
the week's events, said he wants to see a greater understanding
of the dynamics of intersex conditions and an improved ability
to create change.

In particular, Marin-Rodas said he wants to reach out to
pre-medical students because intersexuality is currently
mistreated so frequently in the medical establishment.

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MELISSA B. TADDEI can be reached at campus@<hidden>
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