Number 1
DO NOT bust into a thread to say that Intersex is the wrong word. Intersex is the preferred word. Some will use DSD (disorder of sexual development), VSD (Variation…).
But these are based discrimination. Medical and social discrimination is a HUGE thing we intersex folks need to deal with every day of our lives.
So don’t talk over us and demand we use wording that puts us even further aside.
Number 2
Sorry non-intersex people, but you can’t become intersex via hormone therapy or surgery.
Being intersex comes with a whole lived experience of trauma, discrimination, abuse, and shaming that we need to have people understand in order to END the abuse.
Claiming to become intersex is co-opting our struggles and ends up causing us problems, because we need to combat the wrong stuff you’re saying while trying to get rights.
Like, basic human rights stuff.
Number 3
Do not demand to know what our chromosomes, genitals, gonads, or gametes are. Should be self explanatory, but sadly it needs to be said every year.
We’re not circus freaks for fetishization. We’re people with feelings.
Number 4
We get hit with all of the anti-trans legislation, and yes, there’s exemptions written in for the continued abuse of intersex bodies.
This is loopholes for doctors to mutilate the genitals of INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN who can’t consent. It is absolutely not ok to ask how to use those loopholes for trans kids, or how to get trans kids labeled intersex in order to access gender care.
These are human rights violations committed against a minority. They’re not tools for you or your kids.
Number 5
There is no such thing as the „typical hermaphrodite body“, as I’ve seen being thrown around so much lately.
Just like none of your bodies are exact duplicates, none of ours are, either. So please stop with the „typical hermaphrodite“ bullshit.
Number 6
The 1.7% of the world’s population is for the BABIES BORN WITH VISIBLE DIFFERENCES.
There’s more like 8% of the world’s population that’s intersex, but medical machines and social stigma erase us beyond the numbers of infants mutilated.
I’m serious.
Number 7
We’ve only had one study done on intersex people and poverty, but that study was shocking.
We rival Native Americans for poverty levels.
Dropping out of school because of intense bullying, high suicide rates, inability to find work, it is a very real part of our Lives. That’s a part that we also get told that we DON’T experience so often in queer communities, because of this belief that we somehow have it made.
That’s not how it works. We’re such a silenced minority that even our screams for help don’t get heard sometimes.
Number 8
It is DANGEROUS to have x gender/sex markers on infants or children’s birth certificates.
It has been proven in several countries that having an X marker for infants and small children has INCREASED the number of infanticides, abandonments, and human trafficking of Intersex infants and children.
Leave the X markers for ADULTS who choose them.
Please, for the love of Creator, don’t make us spend all of Pride doing this conversation all over again.
Number 9
We may use the word „hermaphrodite“ among ourselves, but we’re reclaiming that word that has been used to hatefully towards us. If you’re not Intersex, it’s not yours to use.
That word was used to liken us to worms… Subhuman. If we choose to use it, it’s a power Move.
Our power move is not your „oh, that one said I could say it“ free pass. Some use it, some don’t, but coming from someone non-intersex, it’s always offensive.
Number 10
WE OFTEN GET BARRED FROM GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE.
Read that again.
Because of the medical abuse we face as children, we are often denied care as adults…Because of nonconsensual surgeries as INFANTS.
So no, claiming to be Intersex in a gender clinic won’t help you.
Number 11
Intersex people have learned, unfortunately, to have our guards up around endosex trans people, because we get accused of being transphobic when we stand up for ourselves. We need trans people to listen to us, because when we say „that doesn’t help you and it’s hurting Us“, we mean it.
Example: using intersex to defend being trans has led to the belief that being trans is „intersex of the brain“. Which has led to attempts at eugenics to erase trans people… Because they already practice eugenics on intersex people.
PDG testing is used to „deselect“ several variations of intersex in utero.
That means doctors RECOMMEND aborting intersex babies that they can tell will be Intersex from tests. You don’t want that, trans folks. That’s not being transphobic, that’s saying "you’re harming yourself"
Number 12
We want to be allies with trans and non-binary people. We can make amazing progress together.
We really can.
Can we be given a seat at the table this year that isn’t constant fighting for the right to be heard?
And a quick addendum that isn’t about intersex: Trans folks, one of the best moves you can do for yourselves is to UNLEARN that you have to have a reason to be trans.
You’re trans because you are! ![:person_shrugging: :person_shrugging:](https://forum.rocketbeans.tv/images/emoji/google/person_shrugging.png?v=12)
It’s like having brown eyes. You’re not gonna try to explain why your eyes Are brown (or blue, green, hazel, violet…), And it’s the same for gender.
No two people in this whole world have the same gender. So rock your gender and let’s find ways to work together with all of this hate being pelted at us, ok?
A very important read from a friend I’m dropping here. This is also why we specify „no one is forcing surgery or hormones onto endosex trans kids“.
Auch wenn ich „nur“ endo und trans bin, bitte diese Grundregeln des Anstands zu berücksichtigen und informiert euch. Informiert euch über L G B T Q I A +.
Manche Menschen sind heterosexuell, manche homo-, manche bi-, manche pan-.
Manche Menschen sind cis, manche trans, manche trans.
Manche Menschen sind endosexuell, manche intersexuell.
Unsere Rechte sind Menschenrechte.
Und wenn du einer Gruppe diese fundamentalen Menschenrechten verweigerst - verweigerst du es auch anderen. Es gibt kein L G ohne B T I A Q +.