Welcome to OII Australia – human rights promotion, information, and peer support for intersex people

By Admin on 4 April 2012.

The term intersex was first used by science in the early 20th century to describe human beings whose biological sex cannot be classified as clearly male or female; historically, the term “hermaphrodite” was used. An intersex person may have the biological attributes of both sexes or lack some of the biological attributes considered necessary to…
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“Golden Boy”, by Abigail Tarttelin

By Morgan on 25 May 2013.

I loved this book. It vividly captures the effects of secrecy and shame on an intersex adolescent, and a family in crisis. It’s compassionately and beautifully written, from the perspective of six key characters: Max the protagonist, his brother, parents, doctor and friend. Unlike Jeffrey Eugenides’s Middlesex, which manages to convey the impression that intersex…
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Things are looking up: the M.C. case reshapes public understanding of intersex in the US

By Morgan on 19 May 2013.

Lizzie Reis writes about the M.C case taken by Advocates for Informed Choice, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Crawford family and pro bono lawyers. Writing at Nursing Clio Reis says: M.C. had been identified male at birth, but his genitals were sufficiently indeterminate that surgeons removed his ambiguous phallus, a testis, and testicular tissue…
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Your beautiful child: information for parents

By Admin on 18 May 2013.

Congratulations on the birth of your child! This downloadable PDF by Hida Viloria and Claudia Astorino of OII-USA addresses common questions and concerns regarding variations in sex anatomy, or intersex variations, to help you welcome your newborn infant, and make decisions that promote the health and well-being of your child and the entire family. We…
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Intersex people and the NSW government

By Morgan on 16 May 2013.

We’re deeply disappointed in the NSW Government’s late submission on the federal Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) [SDA] Bill. The state says there hasn’t been enough debate to add “intersex status”: In particular, insufficient time has been provided to assess the regulatory implications of the introduction of ‘intersex status’ as…
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Groundbreaking US law suit filed on genital surgery

By Morgan on 15 May 2013.

Advocates for Informed Choice, the Southern Poverty Law Center, pro bono lawyers and parents Pam and Mark Crawford have filed “the first ever impact litigation lawsuit” against the state of South Carolina Department of Social Services, the Greenville Hospital System, Medical University of South Carolina and individual employees for, AIC state, “performing an irreversible and…
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Submission on the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Bill 2013

By Morgan on 23 April 2013.

Our submission to the Senate Inquiry on the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Bill 2013 has just been published. While not as comprehensive as the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill, which seemingly could not generate sufficient support this side of an election, we welcome the tabled Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual…
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Intersex health – plenary presentation to Health in Difference conference, 2013

By Morgan on 22 April 2013.

Background Health in Difference is the major Australian conference on the health needs of LGBTI peoples, organised by the National LGBTI Health Alliance. We have never before seen such good inclusion of intersex issues at an LGBTI event, and we thank participants and congratulate the conference organisers for this, and also for the exceptional level…
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Equal Rights Trust: Testimony by Gina Wilson on rights for intersex people

By Gina on 11 April 2013.

The UK’s Equal Rights Trust has just published testimony by OII Australia president, Gina Wilson, in The Equal Rights Review, Vol. 10. Gina talks about her personal background, her work as an activist, and the issues we face in seeking human rights, including intersex and the sex binary, the medical model, invisibility in human rights…
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Where the bloody hell were you?

By Morgan on 11 April 2013.

Do you identify as intersex and you’re not a member of OII Australia or AISSGA? Do you think that intersex is part of the trans umbrella? Brain intersex? Well, where were you when it came to the Senate Inquiry on involuntary and coerced sterilisation? Where were you when it came to intersex human rights and…
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Update your contact details for OII Australia

By Admin on 11 April 2013.

If you link to an old web address or email, then please update to our new details: Website: oii.org.au Email: info@oii.org.au You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter: Facebook: facebook.com/oii.au Twitter: oiiaustralia There are more details on how to reach us on our contact page.

Submission on government recognition of sex and gender

By Morgan on 6 April 2013.

Last month, the federal government published draft guidelines on sex and gender recognition for public consultation. Download our full submission here The document represents a major shift in the recognition of the gender identities and sex of intersex people, along with the recognition of trans and gender diverse people. We welcome the document, and the…
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