SCR-110: California’s Intersex-Affirming Resolution

SCR-110, a resolution passed by the state of California in August 2018, is the first legislation in U.S. history to name the harms of non-consensual medical interventions on intersex people.

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SCR-110: California’s Intersex-Affirming Resolution

The non-binding resolution, authored by interACT, Equality California, and California State Senator Scott Wiener, calls on the medical profession to heed international human rights guidelines and delay non-consensual procedures that would affect future sexual function—such as vaginoplasties, orchiectomies, and clitoral reductions—until an individual can participate in the decision. It represents a historic first step toward policy that centers the rights and voices of intersex people.

What is SCR-110?

WATCH THE VIDEO

READ THE FULL RESOLUTION

“…The Legislature recognizes that intersex children should be free to choose whether to undergo life-altering surgeries that irreversibly—and sometimes irreparably—cause harm.”

Who else supported SCR-110?

Senator Scott Wiener, Equality California, and interACT had fantastic supporters nationwide who helped get our message of celebration to the ears of California’s legislators. These partners included:

California Uplifts Intersex Youth
interACT Youth members celebrate worldwide!

Wore my #toocutetobebinary shirt to school today cause I’m so damn proud to be intersex in California.

Alice (she/her), California

For intersex teenagers and adults all around the world, this is the first step toward healing. It tells us ‘what happened to you was wrong, and we’re taking steps to make sure it doesn’t happen to the next generation of intersex people.

Kī (they/them), New Zealand

As intersex activists we want to save intersex kids in the future from the things that we had to experience ourselves. And it’s moments like this that give us hope. UN has been condemning unnecessary surgeries on intersex children as human rights violations for years — and it’s time to listen. I hope that SCR-110 is only the beginning, and that in the future other states and countries will follow California’s example by recognizing and then protecting intersex human rights. After all, what we fight for is very simple – everyone has the right to make their own decisions about their own bodies.

Irene (she/her), Russia

With the passing of this legislation it just shows that the activist work myself and so many other intersex people are doing is saving thousands of future children from the trauma we were given because we didn’t have autonomy. This is for the thousands of children either newborn [or] yet to be born, this is for you to have the right to your bodily autonomy. We are fighting for you.” — Johnny (he/him)

Johnny (he/him), Washington

SCR-110 in the Media

And more around the web!

Questions on Intersex Legislation?

“Legislation” is a blanket term that applies to both bills and non-binding resolutions. See the definitions here. SCR stands for “Senate Concurrent Resolution.” A resolution is not a bill or a ban—it is a message to the medical community, from the state of California, that it is time to create policy centering intersex human rights.

Intersex advocates have brought bills in Indiana (2016), Texas (2017), and Nevada (2017). These bills did not pass, but were absolutely influential for awareness and starting conversations at the state level.

Intersex surgeries on minors (such as clitoral reductions, orchiectomies, and vaginoplasties) are not tracked, and hospitals do not report this data. Our #4intersex education toolkit includes a hospital practices guide on how to gauge the likeliness that your local hospital performs intersex surgeries.

interACT and Lambda Legal have released a guide with concrete policy steps, Intersex-Affirming Hospital Policies. Please email [email protected] for implementation assistance or to ask about booking an interACT training!

We can’t say what the future holds, but watch this space! Follow interACT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know.

Other questions? Email [email protected].

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