2) There is a LOT of misunderstanding about what intersex is. It literally means 'between sex'- someone who falls between the arbitrary definition of male and female. Notice that word 'arbitrary'.
Show this thread
The 'I' in LGBTIQA stands for intersex. We are really common- hi, hello! Precise stats are difficult because definitions are completely arbitrary. But around 1% of the population is a commonly kicked around figure. As common as redheads.
-
-
-
3) intersex people can identify as male, female, neither, both or somewhere inbetween. The part of the brain that tells you what you are is the 'gender identity' you probably hear a lot of. It is that innate sense of who you are.
Show this thread -
4) intersex people can have a range of chromosome types. Xy, xx, xxy, xxxxxxxx, xo and so forth, however it isn't always chromosomes that make you intersex. You may appear female, with a vagina and have XY chromosomes & internal testes ( as with Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome)
Show this thread -
5) others of us develop traits later in life- for example, congenital adrenal hyperplasia occurs when your body doesn't produce an enzyme. There are many variations in what it means to be intersex.
Show this thread -
6) some of us, as in my case, had rhe chain reaction in our development affected when our hormones where disrupted by external influences such as medicines and pesticides.
Show this thread -
7) people need to understand that intersex people commonly exist, as it breaks a lot of societal issues. When we muddy the waters defining what it means to be a man or a woman, patriarchial constructs fall apart.
Show this thread -
8) most arguements of transgender critics simply fall apart when you factor in intersex people. Gender roles fall apart. Exclusion based on sex falls apart. It is impossible to oppress women if you cannot define woman as a state.
Show this thread -
9) for example. I am intersex. I have boobs. Can I show you a picture of my boobs on Facebook? Men can. Women can't. Why? Because women's bodies are sexualised and commodified. Is mine? If not, why not? Where do you draw the line? It falls apart.
Show this thread -
10) what toilet should I use? How can you stop transgender women using women's toilets but let intersex people use them. How do you check? Blood tests? That won't work on us. Birth certificates? Again, most of us have the wrong birth certificate information. It is bullshit.
Show this thread -
11) genitals? Well, some of us have ambiguous genitals. Some do not. Where do you draw the line? We make ridiculous gender rules look ridiculous. That makes people trying to enforce them angry. At best we get erased. Hell, watch how often the 'I' gets missed off LGBTQ
Show this thread -
12) type @ then lgbtq to see how often we are excluded from LGBTIQA organisations. Remember, we are around 1% of the population.
Show this thread -
13) if you would like to know more, there is a grrat doco on us here.https://youtu.be/XPY28QW4T4E
Show this thread -
14) people also try to actively exclude intersex from LGBT spaces as "one is sexuality" on is "gender". Think about it. If you are somewhere between male and female and you are attracted to LITERALLY ANYONE ON THE PLANET you are technically at least partially gay. :p
Show this thread -
15) any questions? Feel free- I have to get on a coach in a few hours
Show this thread -
16) Malta is the only place that has outlawed forced surgery on babies who are intersex. Australia does it- about 1 in 1000. This renders the child infertile, damages sexual function and can lead to gender dysphoria if they pick the wrong direction. FORCED. ON. BABIES.
Show this thread -
17) so pleeeeeease learn about us. Think about us. Be aware. The population is not 50-50 male and female folks. Never was, never will be.
Show this thread -
18) like this thread and want more like it? Support me at http://www.ko-fi.com/dellak . I order manly coffees in girly cups because fuck gender roles.
Show this thread -
19) answering some DMed questions. Diethylstilbestrol (DES) and the pesticide DDT are linked to intersex development. They act like estrogens and cross the placental barrier. DES was the first artificial estrogen invented and was given to pregnant women. Is now banned.
Show this thread -
20)another dm answer: yes, you can be transgender AND intersex. If your gender assigned at birth does not match your gender identity, you are transgender. So it all depends on if the doctor guessed right.
Show this thread -
21) intersex people should be allowed to live without forced surgery and allowed to decide themselves. My intersex friends all have one thing in common, we are angry about decisions being made for us- be it hiding information from us or forced into a gender.
Show this thread -
22) my dms are open if you want to ask a question
Show this thread -
23) another question: hermaphrodite is not used on humans. Mammals cannot be hermaphrodites- as in both able to reproduce as a male and female through its life. Our term was 'pseudo hermaphrodite' meaning false hermaphrodite. It was dropped and replaced with " intersex"
Show this thread -
24) human cells get their sex settings from hormones latching onto hormone receptors. A cell doesn't intrinsically know what sex it is supposed to be. Our hormone balance and if our receptors accept hormones determines the current sex of the cell.
Show this thread -
25) which is why hormone replacement therapy changes peoples bodie's sex characteristics. Its a majority thing.
Show this thread -
26) another question: I identify as a woman. I chose to adjust my body with HRT to make it as womanly. I was kind of a pick n mix of characteristics before. I dont have an adams apple for example and my skeleton has female qualities like carry angle and spine flexibility
Show this thread -
27) question from dm: yes, some of us can have children. I have a genetic son through IVF, but could never have conceived without IVF. Fertility does not define intersex people.
Show this thread -
28) finding out I was intersex sent me on a journey of discovery. I had no information. It wasn't talked about, it isn't taught in schools. That needs to stop. We need to be a recognised part of society. Learn. Teach. Get the facts out there.
Show this thread -
29) another dm question: do I and other intersex people feel part of the LGBTIQA community? I can't answer for other people but I don't really feel part of a 'community' as such. LGBTIQA are my people. I have a lot of queer friends but only because they are awesome people
Show this thread -
30) "TERFs keep telling me not to use the existence of intersex people in my arguments (always preemptively) because "they have asked not to be used that way". do I have your permission to shove this thread in their faces?" Terfs want to avoid our existence because we break them
Show this thread -
30 (cont) firstly, TERFS want to exclude intersex people because it breaks their arguements, not out of respect for us. Secondly, intersex people who do not understand the overlap between transgender and intersex need to read more. Thirdly, TERFs are just idiots.
Show this thread - 120 more replies
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.