California State Capitol Building in Sacramento On February 12, many members of the intersex community joined our community listening session to give valuable feedback about legislative strategy. Others called or emailed with specific questions or concerns. We appreciate each of you for taking the time to share with us about what’s important to you! We
Military service is a pathway to opportunities for many. Policies discriminating against transgender people always hit intersex people too, but we rarely make it into these conversations. President Biden's order removing the transgender military ban still doesn't fix denials for intersex people like me. This is my story. By Lavelle Wollam As of
Dr. Rachel Levine, President-elect Biden’s nominee for Assistant Health Secretary, has been my professional mentor. I know she’s a perfect choice for the job. She’s also someone with unique opportunities to carry intersex communities’ needs forward. By Katie Baratz Dalke, MD, MBE Former interACT Board President I’m a psychiatrist who’s dedicated much of
Every young person deserves a fair and equal chance to participate in major decisions about their own reproductive and sexual health. SB 225 gives people born with variations in their genitalia and other sex anatomy this chance by safely delaying major genital surgeries that are typically performed on infants—surgeries to cut a clitoris, create a
By Kimberly Zieselman, interACT Executive Director It was a great week. A collective sigh of relief could be heard across the country from at least 74 million Americans. LGBTQ-inclusive candidates President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be leading our nation come January 20th. We will once again have leaders who believe
By Dr. Arlene Baratz, interACT Medical Research & Policy Committee Chair A landmark study, Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI Populations, was released this week by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM). It finds that: Conversion therapy to change sexual orientation or gender identity can cause significant and life-long trauma, as
We’re grateful for the MDs working every day for intersex bodily autonomy. Here’s 9 who give us hope. By Hans Lindahl Too many members of intersex communities are survivors of medical harm. Many endure the effects of infant genital surgeries that changed their lives before they were old enough to speak. Some intersex
Decades of community activism led to the formation of a law and policy organization, which led to meetings with hospitals across the country, which led to passing a resolution with medical students and physician allies, which led to the policy change you see today. Let us show you a peek behind the curtain. By Kimberly
How do you set boundaries when it can feel like changing the world requires laying yourself bare? When coming out as intersex and going public in the media with my own story as a teen, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Fellow intersex advocates share the tips and boundaries they wish they’d had. By
I drove 1,300 miles to start a new life in a red state. As a Black queer intersex person, that meant navigating new challenges for my safety, and for my vote. By Bria Brown-King An important note: I wrote this blog in increments over a period of 2 months. It documents my moving journey
