This is a Letter to the Editor from Janet Green, Co-Founder of Bodies Like Ours regarding the article published Friday, September 26, 2003. This letter was published Tuesday, September 30, 2003:

DANIELA ALTIMARI's article on Friday about the debate and current treatment of cosmetic surgeries performed on intersex children's genitals accurately alerted your readers to an important health care topic.

However the headline, "Born Neither Girl Nor Boy, They Speak Out" is somewhat misleading since many intersex children ARE chromosomally male OR female, but born with genitals that are not “normal” according to narrow medical definitions.

Additionally, the ‘schoolyard taunting’ referred to by unnamed medical experts is hardly a reason to surgically alter a body to conformity. Rather than use this as an excuse why these surgeries must be done, instead we should be teaching all children about variation, tolerance and acceptance of differences. Ask any survivor of genital mutilation which was worse: the risk of cruel childhood taunting or adult sexual and sensual dysfunction, shame, secrecy and isolation. Pediatric specialists are so focused on the child in their office, they seem to have forgotten we also grow into adults.

Sincerely,

Janet Green, Co-founder and Board Member, Bodies Like Ours