Most people want to do better. That starts with tapping into true curiosity and the empathy that results. As we strive for a world with greater acceptance of our Queer neighbors, we can sometimes be overwhelmed by new concepts and unfamiliar words. What was once referred to as simply Gay Rights has evolved into a variety of initialisms. From LGBT to LGBTQ+ to LGBTQIA+ to 2SLGBTQ+, there is much more understanding of identities which are not heterosexual or cisgender. Most of the initials are well known. But one of the more unknown and misunderstood is the “I” – which denotes “Intersex”.
If you aren’t really sure what “intersex” means, you are not alone. The relationship of intersex to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities is complex. Greater understanding of this community, which represents nearly 2% of the world population, requires further examination of gender binaries. Simply put, biological sex is not cut and dry. You’ve met Intersex people in your life. You probably had a conversation with one in the last month. But if there are so many among us, why don’t we understand their unique challenges?
Intersex people are born with any sex characteristics which do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies. While sex assignment at birth is usually aligned with external genitalia, decisions are made here which can have harmful implications for the child as they age. The 2023 documentary “Every Body” informs and celebrates Intersex people. More urgently, it examines the impact of non-consensual surgeries that occur far too frequently. Directed by Julie Cohen (who also directed the Academy Award nominated documentary “RBG”), the film tells the stories of intersex individuals who are working to overcome childhoods marred by shame in order to become thriving adults.
October 26 is Intersex Awareness Day. But you don’t have to wait for Pumpkin Spice Latte season to learn about this community. In the growing global movement for greater understanding of the intersex population, there are 2 individuals who have become highly sought after public speakers.
Intersex Advocates & Speakers
Pidgeon Pagonis is a queer, nonbinary activist from Chicago. After a series of misdiagnoses as a child, they did not become aware of their intersex variation until their freshman year of college. Shifting from student to medical detective, Pidgeon accessed their medical records and began a years long quest for the truth. Through their work with the advocacy organization interACT, and their creation of the documentary The Son They Never Had: Growing Up Intersex, they began a national campaign against nonconsensual “corrective surgeries”. Their work has shown up in publications ranging from National Geographic to Teen Vogue. They even appeared on a 2016 episode of the Amazon television series Transparent. In 2023, they published their first book Nobody Needs to Know: A Memoir. It’s a raw and revealing story about identity and the healing power of truth. Pidgeon continues to speak out about the importance of bodily justice and autonomy.
Alicia Roth Weigel was named after 1983’s Hurricane Alicia so it’s fitting that she took the political world by storm. Inspired, and later mentored by Texas senator Wendy Davis, she has advocated for change on numerous issues of gender equality. While campaigning against a Texas bathroom bill, she came out as intersex before the Texas State Legislature. Since then, she has fought for greater awareness and justice for those harmed by surgical procedures performed on children without their consent. She was featured in the 2023 documentary Every Body. In the fall of 2023, she published her memoir Inverse Cowgirl. The book was hailed as a “must-read’ by Gayle King during an interview on CBS Mornings. Alicia was also the guest on the premiere episode of Curious Now, a new podcast series hosted by Jonathan Van Ness.