Youth Advocacy Program
The interACT Youth Program was founded in 2010 with the goal of empowering the next generation of intersex Youth leaders ages 13-29, by helping them further develop their advocacy skills. We believe that our personal experience is our greatest asset. The interACT Youth Program fosters a space where members work together–building community and sharing our stories in a way that sends a powerful message: Our Stories Matter, and They Are Worth Telling!
In the Spring of 2023, we implemented a cohort model and onboarded six intersex Youth to join the newly restructured interACT Youth Advocacy Program. This year’s programming includes staff supporting member-led projects, media and advocacy training, Youth representing interACT at public events, such as local Pride festivals, scholarships to attend the 2023 InterConnect Conference, microgrants, and much more!
We also had so many more amazing young activists, educators, artists, and students apply to join the 2023 cohort than we could accept. We hope to bring even more intersex youth into our program next year! We plan to start accepting applications for the 2024 cohort soon. Please check back in early 2024!
In 2018, we created iSpace, the peer support arm of the interACT Youth Program, designed specifically for intersex youth. In 2023, we officially began collaborating with InterConnect, a long-running peer support group for intersex people, their families, and allies of all ages, to help us run iSpace as it continues to grow. Any young intersex person ages 13-29 who is looking for peer support and connection can join iSpace by filling out this iSpace Membership Questionnaire. In addition to InterConnect and iSpace, Club Intersex is another community-run support group for intersex people.
If you have any questions about the interACT Youth Program, email Bria Brown-King at [email protected].
Meet the 2023 Youth Cohort Members
Liat (she/they)
Liat is a college student, influencer, and early childhood teacher from Stamford, Connecticut. She is a proud Hasidic Jew and is super passionate about increasing LGBTQIA+ visibility and acceptance in Jewish spaces. Having been diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) as a child, and later with Cerebral Palsy and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Liat is an advocate for intersex inclusive, weight-neutral, gender-affirming care in medical settings.
In their spare time, Liat loves to crochet, swim, and play video games (Mario is her favorite). She collects jigsaw puzzles and Care Bears and loves anything with cats, bright colors, and/or glitter.
Jay (he/him)
Jay is an intersex Disabled man living in Columbus, Ohio with his partner and their two cats. He is a graduate student studying vocational rehabilitation counseling.
He is excited about becoming a stronger advocate for intersex rights by conducting intersex research and writing and speaking publicly about intersex issues. He enjoys playing wheelchair rugby.
Adéyanjú (any/all)
Adéyanjú Aiyégbùsì (artist name fàájì:funk!) is a genderfluid, Ìgbómìnà-Yorùbá-Nigerian dyke. Her current research projects draw from the well of radical queer traditions of, including but not limited to, ACT UP, Audre Lorde, the Combahee River Collective, Lesbian Avengers, and Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí.
As a cultural worker and advocate, Adéyanjú seeks to advance and uplift existing efforts towards the inevitable collective liberation of intersex, trans and queer people of the African continent and global Afro-diaspora via three mediums:
1.) Revolutionary struggle and study of indigenous precolonial and contemporary history!
2.) Reclaiming bodily autonomy via sports/athletics and body modifications (tattoos, scarification, and tattoos).
3.) Utilizing the arts/culture to expand our collective imagination beyond the rigid bounds of bioessentialist, white supremacist “reality”.
They are currently based in the DC Metropolitan Area and are actively actualizing their dream life as a surfer, skater and musician living and performing between beach cities all across the African continent.
Trace (they/them)
Trace identifies as agender and uses they/them pronouns. Trace was diagnosed with a variation of Swyer Syndrome in 2016 at 13 and has been working towards surgery to start estrogen. They were raised as a girl and didn’t know they were Intersex till later in life and from early on had always had gender differences.
They also knew nothing but kindness for everyone and felt and still feel everyone deserves a place in the world no matter age, race, color, sexuality, gender identity etc. They want to start their advocacy journey to not only improve the lives of those who are intersex but others as well using their many gifts.
Elliott (he/him)
Elliott L is a trans and intersex student studying Disability Studies at Georgetown. He is passionate about intersex community building and facilitates an intersex support group.
His other activist work focuses on anticarceral mental health advocacy, radical peer support for psych survivors, and harm reduction. In his free time, Elliott loves ballroom dancing and making art!
Aubrey (he/him)
