Sally Gross: Open Letter to Ms Semenya

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Dear Caster, Like many other South Africans, I rejoiced at your world-beating performance in Berlin and was horrified at the way in which your identity has been questioned so crudely and so publicly. The malice of those who made the complaint and the leaking of details to the press strikes me, as it strikes most…
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Sarah Graham writes to Ms Semenya

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Sarah Graham writes to Ms Semenya

Sarah Graham, UK intersex activist has written two excellent pieces on the Caster Semenya affair in her national press. The Independent The UK’s Independent newspaper has published an excellent open letter from Sarah Graham to Ms Mokgadi Caster Semenya in her support. We recommend it and we commend Ms Graham for writing it. Since you…
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Position statement on medical privacy

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OII’s policy concerning intersex, medical diagnoses and health information. OII is very sensitive to the individual’s right to privacy concerning medical information and does not require any release of medical information or any diagnosis to be a member of our support groups. OII members are instructed not to ask for a medical diagnosis from any…
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A problem of disorder

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Recently, people were asked for feedback on a couple of pamphlets released for guidelines for care of, and advice to parents of, intersex children.  What say can I have on guidelines for dealing with children and advice for their parents? I have no children and am not in a position to do so. Those who…
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Mutilations or non-consensual “normalization” treatments?

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We have been asked why OII’s Official Position on Health Care does not mention mutilations. There are many reasons for this. Most intersex activism has been focused on just denouncing surgery (basically feminizing surgery), while insisting on a gender assignment as soon as possible. However, this does not seem to have helped intersex infants and…
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Intersex medical perspectives

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The information provided on this site is often written from a medical perspective and is provided as a service to help understand different intersex variations.  There are certain medical problems associated with some variations.  For medical help, please consult a qualified medical practitioner. OII does not accept intersex as a medical issue per se.  However, many…
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Handbook for parents

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Intersex is a normal variation of embodiment INTRODUCTION All parents wish for a healthy child. Parent are very often distressed when they first learn that their child is born with a difference, be it an illness, or a physical or mental difference.  When parents are informed of their child’s difference, they often understandably distressed.  They…
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Mission statement

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Policy statements should always be checked against the policy positions of local OII affiliates. Our Mission Campaign in favour of human rights for the intersexed. Encourage an exchange of ideas and different perspectives about intersex from various groups and geographical regions. Provide information concerning actual life experiences of people with intersex conditions to medical personnel…
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