π£ βShe isnβt set dressing, she isnβt a box to tick, she is a fully-fledged character that is important to her community,β wrote @Steph_I_Will.
π Intersex people have always existed, but today they often face a mixture of ignorance and discrimination.
𧡠Here are eight facts to know π
β The definition
βοΈ #Intersex is an umbrella term for people with sex characteristics β chromosome patterns, genitals, gonads β outside the binary of male and female bodies.
πΆ The traits are sometimes visible at birth, but might not appear until puberty β or not at all.
π’ The numbers
π Around 1.7% of the global population is thought to be born with an intersex condition.
π¨βπ¦° This is almost the same as those who are born with red hair
π‘ However, many don't realise they are intersex until later in life.
π³οΈββ§οΈToday, hundreds of people are meeting outside 10 Downing Street in London for the #TransRightsProtest.
πͺ§ They want to raise awareness of issues faced by transgender and non-binary people in Britain, including access to healthcare.
π£οΈ "As a non-binary person, I want the right to be legally recognised" says @OwenJHurcum, the world's first non-binary Mayor in Bangor, Wales π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ.
π£οΈ "Being able to be someone's representation and to fight for more representation is so important, without that, it's so isolating. It's so destructive."
π The world's fastest women are racing for gold at #Tokyo2020 today.
β But some athletes including Olympian Caster Semenya have been banned from competing in certain races because they are intersex or have high levels of testosterone.
Here's what you need to know π§΅
𧬠Intersex people are born with atypical chromosomes or sex features.
π΅ This means some women can also have male sex characteristics - including internal testes producing testosterone.
π In 2011, the IAAF - now @worldathletics - ruled that female athletes with hyperandrogenism have to lower their testosterone levels to "ensure fair competition for all women".
π But when @Caster800m began taking medication to do this, she said it made her feel ill.
HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system, spreading through certain bodily fluids. Untreated it can lead to AIDS, a set of life-threatening infections and illnesses.
There is still no cure for HIV, but effective treatments exist π