Intersex Awareness Day - October 26

What is Intersex?
Intersex refers to a series of medical conditions in which a child's genetic sex (chromosomes) and phenotypic sex (genital appearance) do not match, or are somehow different from the "standard" male or female.  About one in 2000 babies are born visibly intersexed, while some others are detected later.  The current medical protocol calls for the surgical "reconstruction" of these different but healthy bodies to make them "normal," but this practice has become increasingly controversial as adults who went through the treatment report being physically, emotionally, and sexually harmed by such procedures.

What is Intersex Awareness Day?
Intersex Awareness Day is the international day of grass-roots action to end shame, secrecy and unwanted genital cosmetic surgeries on intersex children.  Intersex Awareness Day first started on October 26, 1996 when intersex activists from Intersex Society of North America and their allies from Transexual Menace held the first public intersex demonstration in Boston, where American Academy of Pediatrics was holding its annual conference. 

To learn more about Intersex issues/experiences, check out the following websites:
Intersex Awareness Day Website  (source for the information in this blogpost)

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