Intersexuality - Dealing with Intersexuality

Continuing Changes - Support Groups

As repeatedly mentioned in this course, there are now several intersex advocacy and support groups. Some try to cover a variety of intersexual conditions, others limit themselves to specific chromosomal or hormonal problems. However, all of these groups are united in their overall goal of improving the medical, psychological, social, and legal situation of persons born with atypical external and/or internal sex organs. In order to achieve this goal, the groups try to educate not only the persons concerned and their families, but also the medical and legal professions and the public at large. Pursuing this mission, they seek a continuous dialogue with researchers, doctors and lawyers, They also write articles and give interviews. Most importantly, they try to provide accurate information, and, whenever possible, to offer concrete assistance to individuals. One of their most effective tools has proved to be the internet. Many of their web sites are very informative, even for specialists, not only because they report the latest scientific findings, but also because they articulate the highly instructive experiences and aspiratons of medical patients. In short, intersex support groups are now an integral part of any serious attempt of dealing with intersexuality. Their main goals can be summarized as follows:

• Inform and educate in order to combat unwarranted shame, secrecy, ignorance, prejudice, and discrimination associated with intersexual conditions.
• Demand full disclosure from doctors with regard to both diagnosis and treatment.
• Campaign against the routine surgical “normalization” of atypical sex organs.
• Demand sex assignment as female or male based on the likely later development of the child, not on immediate conformist pressures.
• Improve access to health care.
• Support the individuals concerned and their families by giving them access to the information they need and to other individuals in similar situations.