Guest Post!: Everyone Is Gay

I am super-excited to have contributed to the fantastic blog, Everyone Is Gay (EIG). I wrote about what intersex is, and how intersex people differ from hermaphroditic species of living things (e.g., plants, fish, mollusks). As a long-time reader of EIG, this was really fun to do, and I'm looking forward to doing more posts in the future!

Enjoy!

Check Out Hida Viloria's Newest Op-Ed in The Advocate: "What's In A Name: Intersex and Identity"

This article examines why the term "DSD" is still being used and what using it actually accomplishes. She advocates not using the term because it medicalizes and stigmatizes intersex people, and Viloria does a great job of illustrating how using DSD "doesn't mean that it promotes equality to do so." Importantly, Viloria also shows how (inaccurately) constructing intersex as a medical condition that needs "fixing" parallels how gay and lesbian people were diagnosed with disorders before 1973, when homosexuality was officially removed from the DSM.

Great article, Hida! So proud to be your colleague! :)

Intersex Activist Tony Briffa, on Identifying as Intersex (and the Problematic Use of "DSD")

Tony Briffa, intersex activist and former mayor of the City of Hobsons Bay (Victoria, Australia), wrote a piece on OII-Australia's blog detailing why it is so important to advocate for using the term intersex, instead of "DSD." He discusses why the label "DSD" is still problematic and stigmatizing, and how using it is not an effective way to promote intersex human rights.

Right on, Tony! Great work, great piece.

Council of Europe Releases Incredible Statement on Need for Intersex Human Rights in Europe!

This document gives me so much pride and hope as an intersex activist. Council of Europe's statement, "A boy or a girl or a person - intersex people lack recognition in Europe" reinforces the need to end the non-consensual, cosmetic surgeries & procedures intersex kids routinely undergo worldwide. It also advocates for our right to bodily autonomy and even possibly give us the choice to identify our legal sex (something the current German "third-sex law" isn't actually doing). The Council of Europe encourages European countries to legislate to protect intersex peoples' rights.

I am simply overwhelmed. Fighting for human rights, there are good days and bad days, and sometimes there are pretty extraordinary days where you can see the progress that's being made. I'm happy to say that this is one of those days.

Thank you, Council of Europe, for advocating for intersex peoples' human rights.