In the Monday July 12, 2004, the term "intersexual" is used in the "Dear Abby" column. A "Confused Parent in Texas" wrote to Abby after her 16-year old daughter said that she was gay.

The response:

Dear Confused: Your feelings are normal. Most parents have plans and dreams for their children, and your child has turned out differently that you expected. I admire your daughter for her courage and honesty in telling you, and I admire you for making it safe for her to do so.
Your next setp is to contact PFLAG. This organization offers support groups, educational out-reach and more to families and friends of gay, lesbian, interesexual and transgender family members. The Web site is www.pflag.org and the number is (202) 467-8180.

I am would like to respond to Abby, by saying:

Dear Abby,

Thank you for your recent advice to the parent of a gay daughter recommending that the parent contact PFLAG. You mentioned that the families and friends of "gay, lesbian, intersexual and transgender" people should contact them for support. I believe that families and friends of intersex people would also find the following organizations most helpful. Bodies Like Ours at www.bodieslikeours.org and the Intersex Society of North America at www.isna.org.

Intersex In California


Anyway, I have no idea on how to contact "Dear Abby", so does anyone have any suggestions on how to send her a letter?


Peter

Peter,
I believe the common way is to send a letter or e-mail to your local paper, or perhaps the quicker way is to call them. It's in their best interest to forward these letters to 'dear abby'.

However, I'm not sure that she is doing it any more, and it may be that they are re-running previous letters to fill the space. Contacting your paper should resolve this.

Best wishes,
Wyn

__________________
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.

United Express syndicates the column. At this address, you can find a form to use to send email: http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/

It's towards te bottom of the page.

The column is likely not a rerun as PFLAG adopted a policy statement regarding intersex less than two years ago and now under the direction of Ron Schlitter has become more proactive in actually promoting it.

Betsy

__________________
Until you've lost your reputation, you never realize what a burden it was or what freedom really is. --Margaret Mitchell

Thanks Betsy and Wyn for your comments. I found the link to "Dear Abby" and sent her my response. I added a line that "Intersex people are born with atypical sexual anatomies and this happens in roughly 1 in 2000 births." I figured that "Dear Abby" may still not be ready to use the word "genitals" in a column.

Peter