(10/26/23) October 26th, 2023 marks a special 20-year milestone for Intersex Awareness Day. First started in 2003 by Emi Koyama and Betsy Driver, the original intent of Intersex Awareness Day was to introduce the movement to a greater audience. Overtime visibility began to grow, such as in the 2013 creation of the yellow and purple flag we know today. This year, Intersex Awareness Day will be celebrated and acknowledged worldwide, a continued effort in education and validation.
A first step in intersex awareness is understanding what it means. Intersex can be thought of as an umbrella term used to describe folks who have variations or differences in sex characteristics compared to what society/medicine considers to be “standard”. These variations may be with chromosomes, genitals, gonads, hormones, or internal reproductive organs. There are a wide range of traits and experiences that fall under the intersex umbrella. Check out Interact Advocates’ Glossary to learn more here.
How common is it to be intersex? Perhaps more so than you might think. It is estimated that around 2% of people are intersex. Some traits may be known at birth, others may be discovered later on. There are so many different ways to be intersex, and we recognize these differences as a natural piece of human diversity.
Join us in celebrating Intersex Awareness Day!
Intersex Resources and Community Support
Glossary of Terms from InterACT Advocates: Intersex Brochures, Guides, and Educational Resources (interactadvocates.org)
https://interactadvocates.org/intersex-awareness-day/
https://interactadvocates.org/new-trans-healthcare-standards/
https://interactadvocates.org/faq/
