International Intersex Awareness Day

For immediate release

Transgender and Intersex Africa supports the International Intersex Awareness Day on the 26th of October. On this day in 1996 intersex activists carrying the sign “Hermaphrodites with attitude” and allies from Transsexual Menace held the first public intersex demonstration in Boston, USA.

TIA believes that this day is a great opportunity to break the silence and stop the ignorance about the existence of the intersex community in South Africa. It is also an opportune time to highlight the challenges and struggle that intersex individuals face in our country, such as non-consensual and unnecessary genital mutilation of intersex babies. Hundreds of intersex infants continue to be subjected to inhumane “corrective surgeries” in order to align them to stereotypical norms of sex and gender. Many intersex people continue to live in silence and isolation as a result of the prejudice and discrimination they face from society. As a result TIA aims to increase access to medical care and legal services for intersex people.

Transgender and Intersex Africa remains committed to its mission to advocate and lobby for Intersex human rights. We remain committed to empowering intersex individuals and creating safe spaces where they can share experiences and knowledge.

“Intersex people should be celebrated as part of the diverse and variant human phenomenon, intersex individuals should not be forced to undergo life impacting medical procedures without their consent and the proper information.” says Nthabiseng Mokoena, Advocacy Coordinator at TIA

“The medical pathological approach to intersex is still a big concern; intersex is not a disorder and should not be seen as one” says Tebogo Nkoana, Director at TIA

“My sex, my gender, my body…. MY DECISIONS’ – TIA

For more information:
Nthabiseng Mokoena
Advocacy Coordinator
Tel:
E-mail:

Tebogo Nkoana
Director
Tel:
E-mail: