Intersex people are those who are born with sexual autonomy that does not fit into the typical binary notions of male or female bodies. Intersex people have been subjugated to enormous challenges and have been victims of discrimination for the longest of time. Since they may be born with a variation of multiple sex characteristics like gonads, genitalia or chromosomes, they are all subjected to discrimination, bullying and in some cases worse. Every year, November 8 is observed as Intersex Day of Remembrance or Intersex Solidarity Day. A civil awareness day that highlights the struggles and issues battled by Intersex people across the world, and their lack of representation, the event first began on November 8, 2005, and is a great way for people to understand the various issues faced by Intersex People. Intersex Day of Remembrance 2019: Significance of the Day to Highlight Human Rights Issues Faced by Intersex People. 

Intersex Day of Remembrance marks the birthday of noted French intersex person, Herculine Barbin, whose memoir, studied by Michel Foucault, gives us a glimpse of the struggles that most Intersex people face. While Intersex is vertical in the Sexual and Gender Minority community, their inclusion in the LGBT Community has been widely discussed. The main reason behind this debate has to be the fact that Intersex people are very different from that of the LGBT Community. While the LGBT community fights for equal rights and the right to marriage, equal pay and more, Intersex people mainly fight to raise awareness about the violations that some of them are forcefully subjected to at a very young age.

The Lack of Awareness

One of the biggest challenges that Intersex people face is the lack of awareness about their existence. While people are still educating themselves about the other sections of the LGBT community, the intersex community is often sidelined. Intersex is more so a biological phenomenon more than a gender or sexuality issue. And starting conversations about this subject, which is one of the core issues highlighted on Intersex Solidarity Day, is the best way to tackle this problem.

Violation of Human Rights (Intersex People are Subjected to Invasive Surgeries Without Their Consent)

As Intersex people are born with a unique sexual autonomy and have a clear biological challenge, many-a-times they are subjected to surgeries at a very young age, without their consent. These operations are highly invasive and also come with multiple side effects. This is one of the most trivial issues that Intersex people often battle, since they are mutilated even before they get to know their own body. The main fight for Intersex people is therefor the fight to have the right to their own body.

The Discrimination

In addition to all these issues, Intersex people also tackle discrimination in every field. Intersex People who have been subjected to invasive surgeries often combat depression and anxiety at a later stage in life, because of the choices that they did not make. The fact that some intersex people have been devoid of basic human rights since a very young age, has been the biggest case of discrimination that they face.

The challenges that Intersex people continue to face are truly tormenting. More than anything else, it is important to remember that it is not only unjust and discriminatory, but also inhumane. The only way to take the fear away from this topic has to be by increasing awareness about Intersex people and especially stirring conversations about the right way to support and nurture intersex children. We hope that this Intersex Day of Remembrance, you choose to spread this knowledge and stand in solidarity with Intersex people across the world.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 08, 2019 09:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).