Thursday 26 October 2023 is Intersex Awareness Day.

Intersex Awareness Day was first established in 2004, to highlight human rights issues faced by intersex people.

Intersex people are born with sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female bodies, and may also be described as people with sex characteristic variations.

According to the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Out and Equal, “approximately 1 in 2,000 babies (0.05% of all people) are born with visible genital differences that put them at risk for unnecessary surgery in infancy.”

Studies estimate that up to 1.7% of the population is intersex, and the visual presentation of genitalia, chromosome differences, other congenital sex differences, and differences of secondary sex characteristics which present at puberty may all come under the intersex definition.

The Intersex Campaign for Equality has developed the following resource: WHO ARE INTERSEX PEOPLE? – Intersex Campaign for Equality (intersexequality.com)

Intersex and LGBTQIA+ communities

While not all intersex people identify as LGBTQ+, increasingly LGBTQ+ activism and advocacy work has moved toward being inclusive of intersex people, views and issues, in recognition of significant shared and overlapping experiences.

A discussion about the similarities and differences between intersex and LGBTQ+ experiences and identities can be found in the Out and Equal Guide to Intersex Inclusive Workplaces and in the below list of further reading and resources.

Further reading and resources

Content note: Some of the below resources discuss issues relating to childhood genital surgery, bodily autonomy and consent. The resources represent a range of perspectives and views.

• OII Europe (Organisation Intersex International Europe) is the umbrella organisation of European human rights-based and intersex-led organisations. Welcome to OII Europe! – OII Europe
• Intersex Campaign for Equality – Promoting human rights and equality for all intersex people through art, education and action. (intersexequality.com)
• The World Health Organisation might have just made things worse for intersex people | PinkNews (thepinknews.com)
• European Intersex Day Project
• Intersex Awareness Day: Westminster student helps make British film history | University of Westminster
• Out and Equal’s Guide to Intersex Inclusive Workplaces Co-Authored by the Intersex Youth Advocacy Organisation InterAct. IntersexResource_R62.pdf (outandequal.org)

 Support for staff and students

Our Sussex community has a number of inclusive groups for both staff and students:

• Staff members who identify as LGBTQ+ can join our LGBTQ+ Staff Network by contacting lbgt-staff@sussex.ac.uk.
• The University also has a Trans and Non-binary Staff Network which is inclusive of intersex people. To contact the chair of the network, email transnonbinarystaff@sussex.ac.uk
• Students who identify as LGBTQ+ can join the Students’ Union’s LGBTQ+ Society and contact the Students’ Union officers for support.
• Students can also find a number of resources and support at the Student Centre.

The University has clear expectations of how all members of its community treat – and are treated by – others. We will not tolerate bullying, harassment and violence, including sexual violence, racial harassment and hate crime.

If you or someone else has experienced behaviours such as bullying, harassment, a hate incident, sexual violence, domestic abuse or discrimination, you can let us know using our Report and Support tool.  

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