Anti-discrimination (page 12 of 13)

For an introduction to these issues, see our page on discrimination

OII Australia founding president, Gina Wilson

Second day of intersex: Human rights

On the Second Day of Intersex we draw your attention to the complete lack of rights for intersex people. For intersex to have any rights at all we are required to submit to the myth that we are wholly male or female. We must allow our differences to be surgically or hormonally removed so that an…
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Chris Somers XXY, self portrait, 2013

Chris Somers: “The fear amongst medicine and its allies of intersex people potentially gaining human rights”

There appears to be an abject fear of allowing intersex people any rights whatsoever. More specifically, an alarming number of medical, allied personnel and others deliberately place blinkers upon themselves. What they are afraid of is any peripheral vision lest they see the clear scientific findings about a human reality that really does exist. There…
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announcement - icon of a megaphone

First ever international intersex forum agrees common platform

The world’s first International Intersex Organising Forum took place in Brussels between 3-5 September 2011. The historic event brought together 24 activists representing 17 intersex organisations from all continents and agreed a common platform.

IDAHOT

Intersex and homophobia: a statement on IDAHOT

On the occasion of IDAHO – International Day Against Homophobia, it is pertinent to remember why intersex is a part of the LGBTIQ alliance. Intersex individuals generally have a sexual orientation, however it is more likely to be perceived as heterosexual than same sex. We also have a gender identity, however that generally appears to…
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Intersex and the Sex Files: good for trans*, bad for intersex

OII Australia supports trans people in their call for human rights, in the same way we support all LGBTI peoples and other marginalized minorities. Sometimes, however, rights called for by one minority group can disadvantage another unless close strategic alliances are maintained so that proposed changes to the law do not accidentally impinge on rights….
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an open eye

Australian Human Rights Commission releases 2011 consultation report

The Australian Human Rights Commission 2011 consultative report Addressing sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity discrimination is a landmark report. The inclusion of intersex people in this report indicates how crucial it is for us to directly engage with government and its agencies in seeking equality and human rights for intersex people. No nation…
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an open eye with eyelashes above it

Australian Human Rights Commission consultation: terminology

Dear all Thank you very much for your contribution to the Commission’s brief consultation regarding the terminology used to describe people with a range of sex identities and gender identities. The majority of responses we received supported some means of separating issues relating to sexual orientation from those relating to sex and/or gender identity and…
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What human rights are affected by early medical intervention?

What human rights are affected by early medical interventions aimed at “normalising” the bodies of intersex infants, children and adolescents? The Yogyakarta Principles In particular Principle 18: B: Take all necessary legislative, administrative and other measures to ensure that no child’s body is irreversibly altered by medical procedures in an attempt to impose a gender…
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detail from the 2009 annual report

NSW Anti-Discrimination Board (NSW ADB) Annual Report 2008-2009 Released

The Anti-Discrimination Board’s 2008-2009 Annual Report has been published. On page 27 it includes a blunt assessment of the lack of protection for intersex people anywhere in Australia: Intersex discrimination – intersex people are not protected against discrimination anywhere in Australia External link: ADB Annual Report 2008-2009