October 30, 2016
U.S. Recognizes Intersex Awareness Day
John McDonald READ TIME: 1 MIN.
On Wednesday, the United States government recognized intersex people and the struggles they face.
"We recognize that intersex persons face violence, discrimination, stigma, harassment and persecution on account of their sex characteristics, which do not fit binary notions of typical male or female bodies," said U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby, in a news release. "Intersex persons routinely face forced medical surgeries that are conducted at a young age without free or informed consent. These interventions jeopardize their physical integrity and ability to live."
As a founding member of the Equality Rights Coalition, the U.S. joins 30 other nations who have "committed to strengthen cooperation to advance the human rights of, and support inclusive development for all persons regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and sex characteristics," said Kirby.
Intersex people have been previously referred to as "hermaphrodites" or "congenital eunuchs." Population figures are hard to estimate due to terminology and classification of sex variation traits.
