Intersex persons and sex diversity (Reading)

The sex characteristics that underlie being intersex are chromosomes, gonads, and phenotypic sex characteristics such as reproductive organs and secondary sex characteristics. Intersex is also an umbrella term: the category containis very diverse biological realities and experiences, thus it is not logical to call it the “third gender”. Some intersex activists thus prefer the phrase Variations in Sex Characteristics (VSC), which better shows the diversity of intersex realities.

Intersex is not a gender identity, but a biological reality, thus intersex persons have different challenges and journey than other identities from the LGBTQI+ acronym.

Intersex persons can have various gender identities: they can identify as a woman or as  a man, as any non-intersex person; or they can consider themselves to be gender diverse or having an alternative gender. All in all, identity is not the central problem for intersex persons: the Intersex Society of North America states: “Intersexuality is primarily a problem of stigma and trauma, not gender”.

However, the challenges of intersex persons can also have some similarities to the ones persons identifying as LGBT face, as both LGBT identities and intersex biological characteristics are stigmatised and challenge the binary norms of our society. You can find many resources online about the intersection of intersexuality and LGBT identities, for example to get a perspective on the lived experience of transitioning for an intersex person, listen to the episode 70 of the “Gender Reveal” podcast.

Due to the great distress of parents and the limiting beliefs of medical professionals, intersex persons undergo repeated, unnecessary and traumatising medical processes and surgeries without their consent or without considering their own self-identification. In these situations healthcare providers forget who the patient is: they mainly treat the immediate distress of parents, and they are unable to give parents thorough information about intersexuality that considers all aspects of gender and mental health. Both parents and intersex persons can suffer greatly when at a later stage the horrible consequences of early traumas and a forced decision comes to the surface.