Press Releases

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

Washington, D.C - Today, Rep. Becca Balint and Equality Caucus Chair Mark Pocan (WI-02) 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 is recognized on October 26 following the first public demonstration by intersex people in the United States at the annual conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1996. 

“Intersex people must be recognized as valid and seen within the LGBTQI+ community,” said Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL). “This resolution is an important step in uplifting the intersex community and fighting interphobia. I’m proud to join Equality Caucus Chair Mark Pocan in working toward intersex awareness and equality.” 

“For far too long, intersex people have been left out of the conversation when discussing inclusivity, health equity, and equality for all,” said Equality Caucus Chair Mark Pocan (WI-02).“Today and every day we must uplift members of the intersex community and recommit to ensuring all levels of government are prioritizing the needs of the intersex community. That’s why I was glad to join Co-Chair Becca Balint in introducing the first congressional resolution to recognize Intersex Awareness Day today.” 

The Intersex Awareness Day Resolution: 

• Supports the goals and ideals of Intersex Awareness Day;
• 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;
• Encourages health care providers to offer culturally and clinically competent care to the intersex community, and schools to support education regarding the intersex community, and connect individuals to resources for young people with intersex variations and their families; and
• Encourages the Federal Government, States, international funding organizations, and United States bilateral and multilateral aid efforts to prioritize the health and human rights of intersex people.   

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

Full text of the resolution can be found here. 

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