Intersex Day of Solidarity

November 8 is Intersex Day of Solidarity.

According to the foremost Intersex advocacy organization, interACT, Intersex is an umbrella term for differences in sex traits or reproductive anatomy.

These differences can be internal, external, chromosomal, hormonal, among other medical identifiers. Intersex individuals are either born that way, or develop these differences as they age.

Intersex people are diverse, coming from all socioeconomic backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders and orientations, faiths, and political ideologies. -interACT

About 1.7% of people are born intersex. (Compare that to a ~0.3% chance of having identical twins!) 1 in 2,000 babies (0.05% of humans) are born with genital differences that a doctor might suggest changing with medically unnecessary surgery*.

Intersex Day of Solidarity, also called Intersex Day of Remembrance, is dedicated to remembering and honoring those who have been subjected to human rights abuses related to their Intersex status, as well as to celebrate the progress that has been made in advancing the rights of Intersex people.

This day marks the birthday of Herculine Barbin, a French intersex person whose memoirs were later published by the philosopher Michel Foucault, along with contemporary texts and a later fictionalized account.

The event appears to have first been held on 8 November 2005, as Intersex Solidarity Day. Joëlle-Circé Laramée, the then Canadian Spokeswoman for Organisation Intersex International, issued a call for all persons interested in intersex human rights to commemorate the day.

Also called Intersex Day of Remembrance, this day is dedicated to remembering and honoring those who have been subjected to human rights abuses related to their Intersex status, as well as to celebrate the progress that has been made in advancing the rights of Intersex people.

How can you support Intersex individuals?

1. Read more about challenges facing the Intersex Community

2. Follow Intersex Organizations and Advocates

3. Talk to your friends and family about Intersex Identities

4. Watch the 2023 Documentary "Every. Body."

5. Share this article on social media, email, or text

By working together, we can create a society where everyone is respected regardless of their gender identity or sex characteristics. This day serves as an important reminder that we all need to work together if we want to create a more inclusive society for all.

*These estimates are based on work by Dr. Anne Fausto-Sterling, who reviewed medical literature from 1955-1998. (Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the Construction of Sexuality, 2000)