The discussion on #intersex rights for too long has been built off a medical narrative that defines intersex pp who truly biologically are between sexes in a distinct way. In truth if the POINT of our activism is to protect the autonomy & humanity of people, then (1)
We must instead focus on “Interphobia” and who are at risk from it. That includes a larger definition on intersex- like #hypo guys who are needlessly operated on often to negative results from a fear of their slightly different bodies.(2) #intersex
The problem is more and more hospitals are boldly claiming they are ending their forced #intersex surgeries on kids, while in reality most of those surgeries they are still performing. Not because of medical need, but fear of those whose bodies are SEEN as “between” (3)
When we keep a narrow medically prescribed definition of intersex in use it ends up causing more harm, as those most at risk of mutilation motivated by #interphobia are left unprotected. It’s a definition that serves hospital administrators fighting a PR game, not #intersex pp (4
The definition game is used by the medical community to maintain the status quo & ultimately their ability erase diverse bodies cus they see that as “helping” not harmful. Which is why more queer voices need to shape the outlook of the medical community. (5)
Just like adding female voices helped improved medical care for women, against a stubborn medical community. Adding more #queer voices shows that biological diversity w/ no valid health concerns at least is neutral, if not something the body owner can be proud of. (6) #intersex
People who often want to be excluded from the definition are people who also carry interphobia & often have been told their different body was a shameful thing to be fixed. They want to erase that part of themselves. It is part of a larger problem of how we treat #intersex kids 7
People should be able to identify however they want, but we need to provide access to identity cus the cost of not doing so is the loss of body autonomy & body acceptance with their only other option being unnecessary surgery & silence. (8) #intersex
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