Intersex UK

New look website and increased content coming very soon…!

Welcome…to the heart of Intersex / DSD lobbying, activism and education development.

We are delighted to welcome you to the recently launched website of Intersex UK , a newly formed organisation (2011) committed to achieving equal human rights on behalf of all intersex people. We seek to do this through education, activism and the positive unification of the many involved in this cause, we have recently started working with the UK government and senior cabinet officials, an advocate supporter who is a senior member of The House Of Lords, various advocate M.Ps, national and international human rights and interest organisations. Thank you.

We want and need you to get involved, visit our linked organisations and find out how we can support you or email us with how you are able to support us. Intersexuk welcome ongoing discussions with the government and other humanitarian groups to assist us in ensuring that intersex peoples rights for equality are amended and thus achieved, and that social understanding and across the board education ocurrs in respect of the nature and acceptance of intersex and DSD. At present the acknowledgement of intersex and the complexity of such disorders / differences of sexual development (DSDs) are not fully supported by the British government (we believe this is not the governments wilful intention, and with unity we anticipate the government will amend these terrible situations).

At present intersex individuals are highly likely to experience significant human rights inequalities and complexities throughout their lives.

Thank you.

Did you know…!

There are many ways in which many intersex people do not experience full protection, equality and rights within British Law:

SOME INTERSEX CONDITIONS / DSDs are listed: Androgen Insensitivity syndrome AIS, Complete AIS (CAIS), Partial AIS (PAIS), Mild AIS (MAIS), Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), Hypospadias (not always viewed as being intersex), Kleinfelters Syndrome, Micropenis, Mayer-Rokitansky-Küstner-Hauser Syndrome (MRKH), Swyer Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, XO/XY Mosaicism, Vaginal Artesia, 5 alpha-reductase deficiency.
People with Intersex conditions / Disorders of Sexual Development (DSD) were historically known as hermaphrodites (this term is significantly outdated and miss leading, many intersex people do not like this term due to its association with mythology). Intersex and DSD covers a variety of conditions where there maybe either or a combination of atypical biological and/or genetic, hormonal or chromosomal differences causing an atypical biological development in a person’s sex development, which is not congruent with usual / typical male or female development.
Intersex /DSD development: All intersex conditions are determined prenatally and are non elective in their existence; many conditions are visible at birth, some conditions become apparent during puberty; some people may never know they have an intersex condition; and some people are misdiagnosed on a basis of incorrect medical understanding and a lack of specialist support and diagnosis from specialist medical clinics / clinicians (Intersexuk do not promote or support non patient consented cosmetic surgery).
Intersex conditions can affect as many as 1 in 200 people in a ‘minor way’, and 1 in 2,000 in a ‘more notable way’ and in extremely complex ways approximately 1 in 20,000 people. There are over 60 million people in the UK, thus a lot of people in the UK are ‘living’ with intersex conditions / DSDs

Intersex is not recognised as a gender ‘option’ within the UK.
There is an unfortunate lack of contemporary legislative measures in the UK, this exists because there is a lack of government understanding when acknowledging medically understood contemporary Intersex / DSD conditions, meaning that some people with certain intersex conditions do not have a right of marriage, civil partnership, adoption, surrogacy and many other sex/gender related areas of equality within the UK. This means ‘you’ may by inference be potentially prevented from these human rights to relationship and family also, (if you happen to be wanting to make such choices for your future with your partner who may have an intersex condition.)
The census does not offer the freedom of choice (which is vital) for every intersex person, some wish to identify as non binary male or female; which is a lesser minority of people with intersex conditions (but all voices and existence and being must be acknowledged), many people with intersex conditions do see their gender as binary male or female; some of these people are not legally permitted to complete the census.
GRC (Gender Recognition Certificate): Due to the historic, outdated legal definitions of ‘sex’ and the procedures outlined by the Registrar Generals Office, some people with intersex conditions are prevented from changing the sex recorded on their birth certificate where this does not represent the gender in which they develop. The right to be legally recognised in one’s preferred gender has been extended to transgendered people under the Gender Recognition Act, 2004. However, accessing that right requires a diagnosis of Gender Identity Disorder (GID). According to the definition of GID, it is not possible to have GID and be intersex. Thus some intersex people are prevented from ‘correcting’ the mistake made on their original birth certificates; thus their basic identifying documentation where this is necessary is inaccurate and puts some intersex people into a position of legal and social impossible limbo. All british citizens deserve an equal right to legal recognition in their preferred gender in the UK and beyond.
Some intersex people may also experience difficulties regarding legally correct insurance cover, definition of their gender or needs at schools, in clubs, associations and definition in law as their sex and gender . Thus many insurances may also be seen as invalid.

WORKING IN THE UK: ‘Did you know’ … these are only a few key examples of inequalities and problems experienced by many intersex people, there are many other serious situations and examples legally, medically and socially that affect the daily lives of people with intersex conditions. Intersexuk has started making steps to remedy some of these issues by starting to work with the UK government and supportive organisations and activists. As stated we also look forward to working positively and proactively with responsible media and educational bodies; and thus collectively bettering the equalities, freedom, understanding and care which affect the lives of intersex children, teens and adults as well as their families.

Patronage and Funding: We do this without funding or patronage.

Intersexuk will be looking to find additional high profile advocates to support our work. Please contact us if you feel you can assist us in developing our profile.

We especially welcome support from associated medical and legal professionals and affected individuals and / or humna rights activists and lobbyists. Our work will be enhanced with your support; and thus education within the government and various organisations and media will develope and continue to grow. By supporting us in our work and unity YOU will directly aid the desperatly needed introduction of future proofed legislation and equality, and thus the wellbeing and freedoms of rights which children, teens and adults affected with intersex conditons require.

Thank you.

Vision

“A Britain where intersex people are understood, accepted and respected and able to participate fully in all aspects of society”

Mission Statement

“To represent and work with the UK’s intersex community, including their families and friends and allied organisations as well as medical and legislative professionals, by providing support and education, and by advocating for equality, rights, and access to services.”

Bo Laurent, supporter of Intersex UK…

“Intersex” is not a discrete category, such that every person is either intersexed or not intersexed. In general, we think of male and female as being obvious categories. But actually, in the face of challenging bodies, it turns out that our ideas of maleness and femaleness are based on the idea that genitals, secondary sex characteristics (those that change at puberty), genetics, and gender identity will be congruent. When any of these are mixed or when they are incongruent with each other, and if that fact comes to attention, the person can be described as intersexed, or as having a DSD.
Bo Laurent (formerly Cheryl Chase), 2011.