Intersex for allies
How can you act as an ally to intersex people? This page contains introductory information and video resources.
Resources
Browse key IHRA and selected third-party resources. From early 2021, key IHRA resources on this page are regularly updated and reviewed by a subcommittee of our staff and board that includes a bioethicist, an education specialist, lawyer and medical doctor.
Bioethicists and paediatric surgeons debate intersex medical interventions
A video-recorded debate at the 2020 Melbourne Medical Student Conference between paediatric surgeons John Hutson and Sonia Grover, and bioethicists Morgan Carpenter (IHRA) and Clare Delany.
Bodily integrity
We all have a right to bodily integrity, to not be subjected to invasive or irreversible medical procedures that modify sex characteristics, unless necessary to avoid serious, urgent and irreparable harm.
Body shaming is an intersex issue
Body shaming is an intersex issue, perhaps even more than any other issue. This post intersperses quotations about intersex infants and children with quotations about the bodies of public figures.
Clinical opposition to early intersex medical interventions
Clinicians are increasingly raising their voices in opposition to forced and coercive interventions, including Physicians for Human Rights and the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association. More action is needed – particularly in Australia.
Intersex people and COVID-19
All populations that suffer health inequalities are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and people with intersex variations are no exception.
Darlington Statement
The Darlington Statement is a joint consensus statement by Australian and Aotearoa/New Zealand intersex organisations and independent advocates, agreed in March 2017. It sets out the priorities and calls to action by the intersex human rights movement in our countries.
Demographics
The intersex population is far more diverse than commonly understood. This page presents details based on a 2015 independent Australian sociological survey.
Detention
A briefing on issues affecting people with innate variations of sex characteristics in detention settings.
Discrimination
A briefing on discrimination issues affecting people with innate variations of sex characteristics due to our bodies, identities, or assumptions about our identities.
Domestic and family violence
A briefing paper on domestic and family violence and intersex people.
Education
A briefing on issues affecting people with innate variations of sex characteristics in education settings.
Eugenics
Many intersex traits are genetic, with an identified origin. The elimination of such traits from the gene pool is an established and growing phenomenon.
An intersex flag
We have struggled with symbols used to denote intersex people, so Morgan created one that is free for the world to use.
Forms and data collection
Guidance on including people born with variations of sex characteristics in forms and other forms of data collection.
Fund intersex advocacy and peer support in Australia, through the Darlington Consortium
Intersex Human Rights Australia and Intersex Peer Support Australia invite you to support the work of our organisations and realise the vision of the Darlington Statement.
Clinical guidelines
Are clinical guidelines enough to eliminate human rights violations against intersex people in medical settings? Reviewing the evidence, we believe they are inadequate, and their prerequisites do not exist.
Healthcare pathways
These health and wellbeing resources work together to visually map established healthcare needs and highlight potential gaps in services.
Identification documents
A briefing and guidance on understanding and respecting the diverse sex classifications and gender identities of people with intersex variations.
Inclusive practice
Guides to inclusive practice, to help make your service, program or project intersex-friendly.
Intersex people and intersectionality
The rights and concerns of intersex people overlap and intersect with the rights and concerns of women, LGBT people, and disabled and racialised peoples.
Intersex: intersectionalities with disabled people
The lived experience of intersex people, and the intersex movement, have many intersectionalities with experiences of disability and the disability movement.
Intersex: intersectionalities with lesbian and gay people
IHRA’s Morgan Carpenter wrote and presented this paper at the After ‘Homosexual’ conference in Melbourne in February 2012. The focus is on intersectionalities with same-sex attracted people.
Intersex: intersectionalities with gender diverse people
This page details some of the general differences and similarities between the experiences of transgender and gender diverse people, and people with intersex variations.
Let’s talk about intersex, animation
Thank you to Rochelle Oh for creating this exceptionally good animated introduction to intersex.
Malta Declaration
Between 29 November and 1 December 2013, the Third International Intersex Forum, supported by ILGA and ILGA-Europe, took place in Valletta, Malta. The event brought together 34 activists representing 30 intersex organisations from all continents, and produced a common declaration.
Marriage and people with intersex variations
This submission to a Senate inquiry on an exposure draft marriage bill discusses the role of medical interventions in preparing intersex bodies for marriage, as well as issues accessing marriage. It analyses the implications of marriage laws in Australia before marriage equality.
Media and style guide
If you are writing about intersex people, our bodies, identities and human rights concerns, this page outlines why we use words the way we do.
Intersex for parents
This page is for new parents of an intersex child, prospective parents planning a pregnancy or undergoing genetic or preconception screening, and also parents of older children.
Peer and family support
Peer support is available for people with intersex variations (also known as ‘differences of sex development’) and our families and carers. Find out how to access support here.
Intersex population figures
There are no firm population figures for people with intersex variations, due to stigma, misconceptions, lack of accurate recording of data, arbitrary definitions, and ideological values.
Researching intersex populations
Guidance on including people with innate variations of sex characteristics in research studies and surveys.
SBS Insight screen episode on intersex people and medicine
In November 2017, SBS Insight screened a program on the medicalisation of intersex people. Several IHRA members and directors participated, as well as parents and clinicians. The full episode is available to view online.
Sport
A briefing on issues affecting people with innate variations of sex characteristics in sport settings.
Steph Lum at Women Deliver 2019
In TEDx-style, Steph Lum (then IHRA co-chair) presents experiences of some intersex women, in personal relationships and accessing appropriate healthcare, at the Women Deliver 2019 conference in Vancouver.
English / español / polski / русский
Teaching intersex issues
This report, on the ways that intersex is used by educators, was published in June 2001. The analysis and recommendations are as valid today as they were then.
UN OHCHR paper on human rights violations against intersex people
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has published an essential new background note on human rights violations against intersex people.
UN Treaty Body statements on intersex human rights in Australia
Multiple UN Treaty Body committees have issued concluding observations to Australia on the rights of children with intersex variations.
What is intersex?
A briefing on working, Australian and international definitions of intersex.
Workplaces
Guidance for employers, union representatives and staff on intersex issues and inclusion in the workplace.
The Yogyakarta Principles plus 10
An important and long-awaited supplement to the Yogyakarta Principles is published today. The Principles apply international human rights law in relation to sexual orientation, gender identity, and now also gender expression and sex characteristics.
You Can’t Ask That
Episode 3 of season 4 of ABC’s You Can’t Ask That focuses on intersex people. Watch it in iView now.
Youth
Finding out you have an intersex variation can be a surprise! It doesn’t mean you’re alone. There are heaps of us out here with different intersex variations.
YOUth & I intersex youth publication
In YOUth & I, intersex youth tell their own stories, how they want to and in their own way. YOUth & I is an Australian publication created and edited by Steph Lum, and supported by the ACT Capital of Equality grants program. Download a free copy.
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