Rep. Becca Balint and Rep. Mark Takano Introduce Intersex Awareness Day Resolution

Washington, D.C - Today, Congressional Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Mark Takano (CA-39) introduced the Intersex Awareness Day Resolution. The resolution recognizes October 26 as Intersex Awareness Day and affirms the dignity and the universal human right to bodily autonomy of intersex people. Intersex Awareness Day honors the first public demonstration by intersex people in the United States, which took place at the annual conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics on October 26^th, 1996, to advocate for bodily autonomy, oppose non-consensual genital surgery, and decrease stigmatization. Since 1996, October 26^th has become a day during which intersex people and allies come together to celebrate and uplift the intersex community.

"This has always been about basic human dignity and the millions of intersex Americans who are no less worthy of respect and dignity than anyone else," said Rep. Balint (VT-AL), Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. "And as the Trump Administration insists on denying the existence and rights of intersex Americans, we will not be deterred in standing up for their rights. It's critical that we, the LGBTQI+ community, work to raise awareness of the stories and needs of intersex people. I'm proud to reintroduce this resolution with Chair Takano to stand up for intersex Americans and affirm everyone's right to bodily autonomy."

"Republicans' attacks on the trans community don't just hurt trans people-the effects spill over onto intersex people, too, because these attacks are based on the false premise that people's sex-related traits always fit neatly into one of two binary options. Intersex people cannot be left out of the conversation when we talk about the impacts of these attacks," said Rep. Mark Takano, Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. "As the lead sponsor of the most comprehensive nondiscrimination bill for the intersex community-the Equality Act-I'm proud to join Congressional Equality Caucus Co-Chair Becca Balint in introducing this resolution recognizing Intersex Awareness Day, because there is no justice for the LGBTQI+ community without justice for the intersex community."

This resolution:

• Encourages the Federal Government, States, localities, nonprofit organizations, schools, and community organizations to observe the day with appropriate programs and activities, with the goal of increasing public knowledge of the intersex community and empowering individuals to celebrate and respect their diversity.
• Urges health care providers to offer culturally and clinically competent care to the intersex community that respects bodily autonomy and self-determination, and encourages schools to support education regarding the intersex community, and connect individuals to resources for young people with intersex variations and their families.
• Encourages the Federal Government, States, international funding organizations, and bilateral and multilateral aid efforts to prioritize the health and human rights of intersex people.

Intersex refers to individuals with innate variations in physical traits that differ from stereotypical expectations for male or female bodies regarding the development, appearance, or function of sex-related characteristics. This includes variations in one or more traits or characteristics, such as reproductive organs, genitals, hormone production and response, or chromosome patterns, which may present at birth or may occur naturally later in life.

The resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Pocan, Bonamici, Foushee, Frost, Mullin, Peters, Tlaib, Norton, Torres, Watson Coleman, Jayapal, Ramirez, Johnson (Hank), Carson, Garcia, Jacobs, Evans, Randall, and Huffman. The resolution is endorsed by the Congressional Equality Caucus (CEC), InterACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, and Trevor Project.

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