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October 26, 1996 marks the anniversary of the first public demonstration by intersex people in the United States. At that time intersex advocates demonstrated during the American Pediatrics Conference demanding an end to non-consensual surgeries on Intersex folks and better understanding and treatments. Intersex people are those folks who differ internally or externally from what the general public understands to be male or female. We make up about 2% of the population and most intersex people don't know that they are intersex unless there is a problem. I speak publicly about what it is like to live as an intersex person and you may have seen my presentation at Keystone or Atlanta Comfort. Intersex people are as common as redheads or twins and you probably pass several each day. We are the I in the LGBTIQ+ and are just normal folks who aren't awful. Perhaps celebrate this day with us and take the time to learn more by contacting the interACT Advocates for Intersex Youth group. There may even be a person with intersex traits in your own family. Safe Journey, Marg Produe
@margprodue Oh Marg, I so admire the courage of your journey. I had no idea what the 'I' was, so thank you for the education xx.
@chrisfp99 Thanks Chrissie, I don't see it as any sort of courage, but more like wow, this is an interesting experience. I originally hated my condition when I couldn't figure it out Now, understanding my Intersex condition helps me to navigate life and I'm glad to share the information with others. You might find the interACT website very informative regarding all the different aspects of us. Marg
Happy Intersex Day Marg ,
So glad to have met you at the Atlanta Confort Conference. I wished I attended your presentation. I was so overwhelmed by all the activities there that I miss alot of goings on.
I plan on going to Keystone next March. I'll be sure to see you're presentation then.
XOXO Fran 🥰
@gafran Thanks Fran, I'll look forward to it. Also I'll know enough next time I'm at Atlanta Comfort to cross over to the concrete parking structure and wait for the shuttle there. lol We waited a long time but had a good talk while we waited. It was fun meeting you and hanging out at the pool. Hugs, Marg
I can see this subject needs more exposure. I have a copy of Gray's Anatomy and the references to intersex are few indeed, being restricted to a few lines regarding the gonads. It's fair enough, I suppose, as from an anatomical point of view, it's just a mash-up of male and female bits in varying proportions. The psychological aspect however, is far from simple and is probably out of the scope of a book on anatomy but much more to do with endocrinology and psychiatry.
I'll be interested to read about the Day although I am not intersex myself, merely a bit bi-genderish.
Becca
Thanks Becca, You might find the interACT website to be very informative. It seems that people in the health fields have a lack of training regarding intersex people. We hope to change that in the future. Marg
@margprodue Hey Marg, Happy Intersex Awareness Day girlfriend! I just copied and posted the announcement from interACT on my FaceBook page. It is pretty lengthy, but I might post it on here.
Hugs,
Ms. Lauren M
@reallylauren Hey Lauren, Happy Intersex Awareness Day right back at you sister. Yup, the interAct post is lengthy but go for it. Just keep spreading the message and writing your book until everybody knows about us folks. Thanks for all you do for the community. Big Hugs, Marg
Thanks for the info on the website, I am lookingnforward to perusing it when I have some free time. As a veterinarian I have seen many intersex dogs and to a lesser extent cats, and always found in interesting, and perfectly normal. I am curious as to the gentics of intersexism. Is it a chromosomal issue like XXY, or some other variant, or hormonal variations. In science palance, it is genotypic or phenotypic?
@jjandme Hi JJ, according to the doctor who diagnosed me as an intersex female, it is a combination of chromosomes, hormones and genetics, with much of that occurring because of changes in my mother's hormonal flows while I was still in utero.
@reallylauren Hi Lauren, Thanks so much for contributing to Intersex Awareness Day. Your input is really helpful. Hugs, Marg
@jjandme Hi JJ, I think that you would enjoy the site. It's quick and to the point so you can explore as much as you want. It's interesting to me that you mention that you see intersex animals in your practice. I wonder if your patients represent the 2% intersex situation that we see in humans. It's only been about 30 years that there has been a increase in the study of intersex conditions but it took my lifetime to get me figured out. There are commonly 3 different ways that can make up an intersex condition. Most people have a karyotype (set of chromosomes) of XX or XY but some folks have something different like XO, YO, XXY or even XXXY. Intersex traits can also be gonadal like having underdeveloped, streaked or mixed tissue. And finally intersex traits can be hormonal. An interesting note here is that if a body is producing testosterone and for some reason that body can't utilize it (like missing an essential molecule etc) it won't waste the testosterone but easily convert it into estrogen. This is where things get a little heated in Olympic sports eligibility. I myself am a DES baby (my mother was one of millions given high concentrations of synthetic estrogen before my birth in what is now considered a very bad therapy) and I am PAIS (partially insensitive to androgens ) and thus am a feminized male. Perhaps the most striking thing about being intersex is that most intersex folks never know that they are intersex unless there is a problem. My profile talks a little bit more about that. So, thanks so much to you and Lauren for sharing your knowledge here with all of us regarding intersex conditions on Intersex Awareness Day. Safe Journey, Marg
Thanks for the relpy. I am very curious about chromosomes and their effect, because they are determinedat conception, and therefore not effected by mothers hormones. Of course those chromosomes could then go on and cause changes in mother' and babies hormones, which is what affects babies phenotype.
