:Intersex Awareness Day

The event marks the first public demonstration by intersex people in North America, on October 26, 1996, outside the venue in Boston where the American Academy of Pediatrics was holding its annual conference.{{cite web | title = The 14 days of intersex | date = 25 October 2011 | publisher = Star Observer | url = http://www.starobserver.com.au/opinion/2011/10/25/the-14-days-of-intersex/64300 | access-date = 11 October 2012 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120622105212/http://www.starobserver.com.au/opinion/2011/10/25/the-14-days-of-intersex/64300 | archive-date = 22 June 2012 }} Intersex activists Morgan Holmes and Max Beck participated for the (now-defunct) Intersex Society of North America, alongside allies from Transsexual Menace including Riki Wilchins.{{cite web |url=http://intersexday.org/en/max-beck-morgan-holmes-boston-1996/ |title=When Max Beck and Morgan Holmes went to Boston |last=Holmes |first=Morgan |author-link=Morgan Holmes |date=17 October 2015 |website=Intersex Day |access-date=2015-10-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020004238/http://intersexday.org/en/max-beck-morgan-holmes-boston-1996/ |archive-date=20 October 2015 }} Holmes has written that the event was intended not as a demonstration but as participation in the conference. She states that Beck and Holmes had intended to deliver an address, "on long-term outcomes and to challenge their still-prevailing opinion that cosmetic surgery to "fix" intersexed genitals was the best course of action", but were "met, officially, with hostility and were escorted out of the conference by security guards".{{Cite book| publisher = University of Minnesota Press| pages = 32–50| last = Holmes| first = Morgan| author-link = Morgan Holmes |title = Transgender Rights| chapter = Deciding fate or protecting a developing autonomy? Intersex children and the Colombian Constitutional Court| location = Minneapolis, Minnesota| date = 2006}} The group only later demonstrated, carrying a sign saying "Hermaphrodites With Attitude".{{cite web |url=http://www.isna.org/books/chrysalis/beck |title=Hermaphrodites with Attitude Take to the Streets |last=Beck |first=Max |author-link=Max Beck |website=Intersex Society of North America |access-date=2015-10-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005043221/http://www.isna.org/books/chrysalis/beck |archive-date=2015-10-05 }}

The commemoration day itself began in 2003{{cite web |url=http://intersexday.org/en/origin-intersex-awareness-day/ |title=The origins of Intersex Awareness Day |last1=Driver |first1=Betsy |author-link=Betsy Driver |date=14 October 2015 |website=Intersex Day |access-date=2015-10-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020004155/http://intersexday.org/en/origin-intersex-awareness-day/ |archive-date=20 October 2015 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ianz.org.nz/2015/10/international-intersex-awareness-day-2015/ |title=International Intersex Awareness Day 2015 |last=Mitchell |first=Mani |author-link=Mani Mitchell |date=October 21, 2015 |website=Intersex Trust Aotearoa New Zealand |access-date=2015-10-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211204423/http://www.ianz.org.nz/2015/10/international-intersex-awareness-day-2015/ |archive-date=December 11, 2015 }} with the establishment of a central awareness raising site by Betsy Driver and Emi Koyama. A central awareness raising site was later re-established in 2015 by Morgan Carpenter with Laura Inter of Brújula Intersexual, and support from Open Society Foundations.{{cite web |url=http://intersexday.org/en/about/ |title=About Intersex Day; evaluating the project |last=Carpenter |first=Morgan |author-link=Morgan Carpenter |date=3 November 2015 |website=Intersex Day |access-date=2015-12-05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208135736/http://intersexday.org/en/about/ |archive-date=8 December 2015 }}

Intersex Awareness Day is an international day of grass-roots action to end shame, secrecy and unwanted genital cosmetic surgeries on intersex children.{{cite web | url = http://oii.org.au/24002/intersex-awareness-day-2013/ | title = Intersex Awareness Day, 2013 | work = Organisation Intersex International Australia | date = 26 October 2013 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131221123054/http://oii.org.au/24002/intersex-awareness-day-2013/ | archive-date = 21 December 2013 | access-date = 25 December 2013 }}{{cite web | title = Celebrate Intersex Awareness Day: October 26, 2004 | publisher = Egale Canada | url = https://egale.ca/celebrate-intersex-awareness-day-october-26-2004/ | access-date = 11 October 2012 | archive-date = 24 July 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180724224804/https://egale.ca/celebrate-intersex-awareness-day-october-26-2004/ | url-status = dead }} The day also provides an opportunity for reflection{{cite web | title = So, It's Intersex Awareness Day and What Have We Done? | publisher = The Interface Project | url = http://www.interfaceproject.org/blog/iad-october-24-2014 | access-date = 12 December 2014 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20141212050954/http://www.interfaceproject.org/blog/iad-october-24-2014 | archive-date = 12 December 2014 }}{{cite web | title = Why Intersex Awareness Day is important | date = 24 October 2014 | publisher = Star Observer | url = http://www.starobserver.com.au/opinion/soapbox-opinion/why-intersex-awareness-day-is-important/129275 | access-date = 12 December 2014 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141201224844/http://www.starobserver.com.au/opinion/soapbox-opinion/why-intersex-awareness-day-is-important/129275 | archive-date = 1 December 2014 }} and political action. Between October 26 and November 8, intersex organizations bring attention to the challenges intersex individuals face, culminating in the Intersex Day of Remembrance on November 8, the birthday of Herculine Barbin, also sometimes known as Intersex Solidarity Day.{{cite web | title = Intersex: Myths and Realities | publisher = Transfaith Online | url = http://www.transfaithonline.org/intersections/intersex/ | access-date = 11 October 2012 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131226093224/http://www.transfaithonline.org/intersections/intersex/ | archive-date = 26 December 2013 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.glaad.org/blog/guest-post-october-26-intersex-awareness-day | title = GUEST POST: October 26 is Intersex Awareness Day | work = GLAAD | date = 26 October 2013 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131227063441/http://www.glaad.org/blog/guest-post-october-26-intersex-awareness-day | archive-date = 27 December 2013 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.intersexualite.de/index.php/am-8-november-ist-intersex-solidarity-day/ | language = de | title = Am 8. November ist Inter*sex Solidarity Day | work = IVIM/OII Germany | date = 26 October 2013 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131226085549/http://www.intersexualite.de/index.php/am-8-november-ist-intersex-solidarity-day/ | archive-date = 26 December 2013 }}

On Friday 25 October 2013, the day before Intersex Awareness Day that year, the Australian Senate published a report on an inquiry titled the Involuntary or coerced sterilisation of intersex people in Australia.{{cite web | url = http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Involuntary_Sterilisation/Sec_Report/index | title = Involuntary or coerced sterilisation of intersex people in Australia | last = Australian Senate | author-link = Australian Senate | date = 25 October 2013 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923181927/http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Involuntary_Sterilisation/Sec_Report/index | archive-date = 23 September 2015 }} On 11 November 2014, the New South Wales Legislative Council in Australia passed a motion marking Intersex Awareness Day and calling on the State government to "work with the Australian Government to implement the recommendations" of the 2013 Senate committee report.{{cite web | title = Legislative Council, Minutes Of Proceedings, No. 16, Tuesday 11 November 2014 | publisher = New South Wales Legislative Council | url = http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/common.nsf/V3HHBDay?open&key=20141111 | access-date = 12 December 2014 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141111202532/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/common.nsf/V3HHBDay?open&key=20141111 | archive-date = 11 November 2014 }}{{cite web | url = http://oii.org.au/28073/nsw-motion-iad-2014/ | title = NSW Legislative Council motion marking Intersex Awareness Day, 2014 | work = Organisation Intersex International Australia | date = 11 November 2014 | access-date = 11 November 2014 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141111172137/http://oii.org.au/28073/nsw-motion-iad-2014/ | archive-date = 11 November 2014 }}

For Intersex Awareness Day 2014, the Senate of the German Land of Berlin issued a statement calling for self-determination for intersex people.{{cite web | url = http://www.berlin.de/sen/aif/ueber-uns/presse/2014/pressemitteilung.218639.php | language = de | title = Intersex Awareness Day: Senat fördert Angebote für intergeschlechtliche Menschen | last = Senate of the Land of Berlin, Germany | date = 24 October 2014 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141104044114/http://www.berlin.de/sen/aif/ueber-uns/presse/2014/pressemitteilung.218639.php | archive-date = 4 November 2014 }} Also in 2014, the Human Rights Commission of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, held a visibility event on intersex issues.{{cite web | url = http://cdhdfbeta.cdhdf.org.mx/event/foro-inter-visibilidad-visibilidad-intersexual/?lang=en | title = Forum: "Inter visibilidad, Visibility intersex" | last = Human Rights Commission of Mexico City, Distrito Federal | date = October 2014 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141104095324/http://cdhdfbeta.cdhdf.org.mx/event/foro-inter-visibilidad-visibilidad-intersexual/?lang=en | archive-date = 2014-11-04 }}

In 2015, institutional events included the launch of an Intersex Human Rights Fund by Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice,{{Citation| last = Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice| title = Astraea Launches the World's First Intersex Human Rights Fund| date = October 25, 2015| url = http://www.astraeafoundation.org/news/352/60/Astraea-Launches-the-World-s-First-Intersex-Human-Rights-Fund/d,home-news| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208083023/http://www.astraeafoundation.org/news/352/60/Astraea-Launches-the-World-s-First-Intersex-Human-Rights-Fund/d,home-news| archive-date = December 8, 2015| access-date = December 5, 2015}} and a motion submitted to New South Wales Legislative Assembly in Australia by Greens MP Jenny Leong.{{cite web |url=http://intersexday.org/en/jenny-leong-nsw-parliament-2015/ |title=Motion introduced into NSW State Parliament |last=Intersex Day |date=26 October 2015 |website=Intersex Day |access-date=2015-12-05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208170804/http://intersexday.org/en/jenny-leong-nsw-parliament-2015/ |archive-date=8 December 2015 }} A lawsuit was filed by Dana Zzyym of the Intersex Campaign for Equality, with Lambda Legal, suing the United States Department of State for legal gender recognition on their passport as nonbinary and intersex.{{cite web| url = http://www.lambdalegal.org/blog/20151026_zzyym-intersex-denied-passport| last = Lambda Legal| author-link = Lambda Legal| title = Lambda Legal Sues U.S. State Department on Behalf of Intersex Citizen Denied Passport| date = October 26, 2015| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170221091615/http://www.lambdalegal.org/blog/20151026_zzyym-intersex-denied-passport| archive-date = February 21, 2017}}{{cite news | last = Rein | first = Lisa | date = October 27, 2015 | title = Intersex applicants face passport discrimination, says lawsuit seeking option other than 'M' or 'F' | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/10/27/intersex-applicants-face-passport-discrimination-says-lawsuit-seeking-option-other-than-m-or-f/ | newspaper = Washington Post | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151209170342/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/10/27/intersex-applicants-face-passport-discrimination-says-lawsuit-seeking-option-other-than-m-or-f/ | archive-date = December 9, 2015 }} BuzzFeed reported that over 4.2 million people saw personal stories posted on social media in an action coordinated by activist Pidgeon Pagonis.{{Cite news| last = Karlan| first = Sarah| title = People Took To Twitter To Share Their Deeply Personal #IntersexStories| work = Buzzfeed| date = October 28, 2015| url = https://www.buzzfeed.com/skarlan/people-shared-their-personal-intersexstories-on-twitter-for| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170513221305/https://www.buzzfeed.com/skarlan/people-shared-their-personal-intersexstories-on-twitter-for| archive-date = May 13, 2017}}

In 2016, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights launched an awareness website,{{cite web|url = http://unfe.org/intersex-awareness|title = United Nations for Intersex Awareness|date = October 2016|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161112212215/https://www.unfe.org/intersex-awareness/|archive-date = 2016-11-12}} while UN experts, including the Committee against Torture, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, along with the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and United Nations Special Rapporteurs called for an urgent end to human rights violations against intersex persons, including in medical settings.{{Citation| last = Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights| author-link = Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights| title = End violence and harmful medical practices on intersex children and adults, UN and regional experts urge| date = October 24, 2016| url = http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=20739&LangID=E| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161121185256/http://ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=20739&LangID=E| archive-date = November 21, 2016}}{{Cite web| last = Radcliffe| first = Charles| title = Intersex Ed at the UN| work = The Huffington Post| access-date = 2016-10-26| date = October 24, 2016| url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-radcliffe/intersex-ed-at-the-un_b_12613864.html| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161030143136/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-radcliffe/intersex-ed-at-the-un_b_12613864.html| archive-date = October 30, 2016}}

Multiple governmental bodies made statements, alongside many civil society organizations.{{cite web|url = http://intersexday.org|title = Intersex Day | date = October 2016}}{{cite web| url = http://interactadvocates.org/intersex-awareness-day/| title = Intersex Awareness Day| work = Interact Advocates for Intersex Youth| date = October 26, 2016| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161030140957/http://interactadvocates.org/intersex-awareness-day/| archive-date = October 30, 2016}}{{cite web | url = https://oii.org.au/30874/intersex-awareness-day-news-round/ | title = Intersex Awareness Day news round-up | work = Organisation Intersex International Australia | date = October 29, 2016 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161030141153/https://oii.org.au/30874/intersex-awareness-day-news-round/ | archive-date = October 30, 2016 }} Official recognition included statements by the United States Department of State{{Cite web | last = Department Of State | author-link = United States Department of State | title = In Recognition of Intersex Awareness Day | date = October 26, 2016 | url = https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2016/10/263578.htm }} and Australian Human Rights Commission{{Cite web| last = Santow| first = Ed| title = Intersex rights are human rights| work = Australian Human Rights Commission| date = October 26, 2016| url = https://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/stories/intersex-rights-are-human-rights| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161030144236/https://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/stories/intersex-rights-are-human-rights| archive-date = October 30, 2016}}{{Cite web| last = Wade| first = Matthew| title = The importance of ending harmful surgeries on intersex children in Australia| work = Star Observer| access-date = 2016-10-26| date = 2016-10-26| url = http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/national-news/intersex-sterilisation-human-rights/153552| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161027122307/http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/national-news/intersex-sterilisation-human-rights/153552| archive-date = 2016-10-27}} also made statements, The South African government acknowledged a need for action to prevent human rights violations,{{cite web | url = http://intersexday.org/en/iranti-en-crc-2016/ | title = Iranti.org: South Africa and the rights of intersex children | date = October 26, 2016 | work = Intersex Day | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161030142352/http://intersexday.org/en/iranti-en-crc-2016/ | archive-date = October 30, 2016 }}{{cite web |date = October 27, 2016 |first = Carl |last = Collison |work = Mail & Guardian |title = SA joins the global fight to stop unnecessary genital surgery on intersex babies |url = http://mg.co.za/article/2016-10-27-00-sa-joins-the-global-fight-to-stop-unnecessary-genital-surgery-on-intersex-babies/ |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161030201825/http://mg.co.za/article/2016-10-27-00-sa-joins-the-global-fight-to-stop-unnecessary-genital-surgery-on-intersex-babies/ |archive-date = October 30, 2016 }} and there was a first event in Kenya.{{cite web | url = https://intersexday.org/en/nairobi-walk-2016/ | title = Nairobi, Kenya: walk for recognition | website = Intersex Day | date = October 21, 2016 | access-date = 2020-10-26}}

In June 2017, the State Department statement was cited in a policy paper by Joycelyn Elders, David Satcher, and Richard Carmona, three former Surgeons General of the United States, calling for a rethink of early genital surgeries on children with intersex traits.{{Cite web| publisher = Palm Center| last1 = Elders| first1 = M Joycelyn| last2 = Satcher| first2 = David| last3 = Carmona| first3 = Richard| author1-link = Joycelyn Elders| author2-link = David Satcher| author3-link = Richard Carmona| title = Re-Thinking Genital Surgeries on Intersex Infants| date = June 2017| url = http://www.palmcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Re-Thinking-Genital-Surgeries-1.pdf| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170728074139/http://www.palmcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Re-Thinking-Genital-Surgeries-1.pdf| archive-date = 2017-07-28}}{{Cite web| last = Weiss| first = Suzannah| title = These Doctors Want Us To Stop Pathologizing Intersex People| work = Refinery29| date = June 30, 2017| url = http://www.refinery29.com/2017/06/161533/intersex-surgery-surgeon-general-letter| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170701050315/http://www.refinery29.com/2017/06/161533/intersex-surgery-surgeon-general-letter| archive-date = July 1, 2017 | access-date = 2020-10-26}}{{Cite web| last = Power| first = Shannon| title = 'Stunning victory' as US Surgeons General call for an end to intersex surgery| work = Gay Star News| access-date = 2020-10-26| date = June 29, 2017| url = https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/us-surgeon-generals-call-end-intersex-surgery/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170712033650/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/us-surgeon-generals-call-end-intersex-surgery/| archive-date = July 12, 2017}}

Australians held an intersex awareness day event in their national parliament.{{cite web | url = https://ihra.org.au/31601/parliament-iad-2017/ | title = Parliamentary Friendship Group breakfast for Intersex Awareness Day | website = Intersex Human Rights Australia | date = October 11, 2017 | access-date = 2018-11-16}} The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement for Intersex Awareness Day, 21 years after a demonstration outside its conference that is now marked by the Day.{{cite web| url = https://intersexday.org/en/aap-statement-2017/ | title = American Academy of Pediatrics statement on Intersex Awareness Day | website = Intersex Day | date = October 27, 2017 | access-date = 2018-11-16}} The State Department issued a statement recognizing violence of forced medical practices.{{cite web| url = https://intersexday.org/en/state-2017/ | title = US State Department message of solidarity | website = Intersex Day | date = October 27, 2017 | access-date = 2018-11-17}}{{Cite web| last = Nauert| first = Heather| title = In Recognition of Intersex Awareness Day| work = U.S. Department of State| access-date = 2018-11-16| date = October 26, 2017| url = http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/10/275098.htm}}

In 2018, OII Europe, ILGA-Europe and the European Parents' Association published a multilingual guide to parenting intersex children.{{Citation| last1 = OII Europe| last2 = IGLYO| last3 = European Parents' Association| title = Supporting your intersex child - A parents' toolkit| access-date = 2018-11-16| date = October 26, 2018| url = https://oiieurope.org/supporting-your-intersex-child-a-parents-toolkit/}} US advocates wrote about proposals to define gender strictly in accordance with genitalia observed at birth.{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| last = Weigel| first = Alicia Roth| title = Intersex, and Erased Again| work = The New York Times| access-date = 2018-11-16| date = October 23, 2018| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/23/opinion/trump-transgender-memo-intersex.html}} This was accompanied by news reports on children who have not undergone intersex medical interventions.{{Cite news| last = Compton| first = Julie| title = 'You can't undo surgery': More parents of intersex babies are rejecting operations| work = NBC News| access-date = 2018-11-16| date = October 24, 2018| url = https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/you-can-t-undo-surgery-more-parents-intersex-babies-are-n923271}} Australian intersex organizations held parliamentary meetings, and awarded the 'Darling Award' to the National LGBTI Health Alliance to recognize work beyond affirmation of the Darlington Statement, a regional community declaration.{{Cite news| last = Wade| first = Matthew| title = Intersex allies in Australia recognised with 'Darling Award'| work = Star Observer| access-date = 2018-11-16 | date = October 26, 2018| url = http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/national-news/intersex-allies-australia-recognised-with-darling-award/172738}}{{Cite web| last = Intersex Human Rights Australia| title = Intersex Awareness Day, 2018| work = Intersex Human Rights Australia| access-date = 2018-11-16| date = October 26, 2018| url = https://ihra.org.au/32615/intersex-awareness-day-2018/}}

• On October 25, the intersex flag was raised at London City Hall, Ontario, Canada for the first time ever.{{Cite web|title=Intersex flag at City Hall celebrates milestones|url=https://www.theinterrobang.ca/article?aID=15031|access-date=2021-09-15|website=www.theinterrobang.ca|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=How this Ontario organization is raising awareness of intersex rights|url=https://www.tvo.org/article/how-this-ontario-organization-is-raising-awareness-of-intersex-rights|access-date=2021-09-15|website=TVO.org|language=en}}
• The spire of Arts Centre in Melbourne was colored in colors of intersex flag, to celebrate the day.{{Cite web |last=Arcuri |first=Dean |date=2019-10-26 |title=Arts Centre Melbourne spire lights up for Intersex Awareness Day |url=https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/arts-centre-melbourne-spire-lights-up-for-intersex-awareness-day/188895 |access-date=2021-09-15 |website=Star Observer |language=en-US}}

• Intersex Day of Remembrance
• Intersex human rights

{{Reflist}}

• [http://intersexday.org/en/ Intersex Day]

{{Intersex}}

Category:Civil awareness days

Category:Intersex-related events

Category:History of LGBTQ civil rights in the United States

Category:LGBTQ events in the United States

Category:October observances

Category:Awareness days

Category:LGBTQ awareness periods

Category:Recurring events established in 2003