Intersex Awareness Day is important for raising awareness for Intersex people and the challenges they face. In the UK, the term Intersex is sometimes the preferred term, others prefer the terms Disorders of Sex Development (DSD), Variations in Sex Characteristics (VSC) or Diverse Sex Development.
Intersex people are people whose generic and physical make up does not fit within binary male and female definitions; there are over 30 intersex variations. Some of the characteristics that distinguish these variations include:
- chromosomes
- genitalia
- reproductive organs
- sex hormones
- physical features
Intersex people may have more than one varied characteristic, such as both an insensitivity to sex hormones and differences in sexual anatomy. Intersex conditions can vary from person to person, and not everyone has outwardly visible changes in their sex characteristics. Some people may never know that they’re intersex, while others become aware later in life through personal experiences such a trying for children or medical testing.
This day has particular salience this year given the Supreme Court Ruling on the definition of sex being a binary construct as either male or female. Support for intersex people can be found here and if students are seeking support please get in touch with Student Support who offer LGBTQ+ specific support.
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