It's Intersex Awareness Day!

Twenty years ago today, intersex activists took to the streets of Boston and demonstrated outside a conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

It was the first public demonstration by intersex people in North America — an event commemorated yearly as Intersex Awareness Day.

On this 20^th anniversary, Lambda Legal has joined a coalition of intersex activists and organizations from around the world to reaffirm the importance of intersex rights. Together we presented the following resolution:

1. All intersex people have the right to make their own decisions affecting their bodily integrity, physical autonomy and self-determination.
2. Medically unnecessary treatment, surgeries and sterilizations of intersex people should not occur without said intersex person’s full informed consent.
3. Intersex people and the families of children born with intersex traits should have access to non-pathologizing psychosocial and peer support.

Among the signatories of today’s resolution is Lambda Legal plaintiff Dana Zzyym. (Though many intersex people identify as male or female, some — like Dana — do not. Dana uses the gender-neutral pronouns “they,” “them” and “their.”)

Dana, a U.S. Navy veteran, was denied a U.S. passport because Dana could not accurately choose either male or female on the application form, and the form does not provide any other gender marker designation. Lambda Legal is suing the State Department on Dana’s behalf.

A federal court heard our case in July, and a decision is expected soon. 

Learn more about Dana’s case and the rights of intersex people.