Intersex: I am not Disordered, I am Human

[IndianaGreen]

Amy Hinton interview:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x81377

Intersex: I am not Disordered, I am Human

By Sophia Siedlberg

Editor’s note: Sophia Siedlberg is a geneticist and the U.K. spokesperson for the Organization Intersex International.

Recently, I read an article in which Amy Hinton was discussing her work as an intersex activist. I found myself needing to respond to a few of her points.

The main issue for me is how a lot of intersex variations (I prefer to use "intersex variations" instead of "DSD" ) seem to be underrepresented in the media. Often the discussion seems to be about Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, not that there is anything wrong with that, but for some reason the discussion goes into genetics, with the statement: "They are women with male DNA." or "They are women with male chromosomes." The first statement is untrue. In genetics there are "Male Specific Regions," some of which do lie on the X and Y chromosomes. But what needs to be understood is that there are more MSRs and also more genes that are involved in sex differentiation in the autosomes, that is, in the other chromosomes. In the case of AIS the gene involved that codes for Androgen Receptors does however lie on the X chromosome, but in a sense this illustrates the point – "Male DNA" on a "Female Chromosome." It does not make much sense when you talk of "Male" and "Female" DNA.

Amy Hinton stated that "Intersex can mean someone whose chromosomes are the sex opposite to their physical sex." Well, as we have already established, chromosomes are not clear markers of sex and genetically speaking sex differentiation is more complex than this. Many people with CAH (Congenital adrenal hyperplasia) have "XX chromosomes" and are often female, but there are some who end up as male. Does reducing people with CAH or AIS to chromosomes mean anything? I suspect not.

The point here is that you cannot define sex by genetics alone. In genetics there is no "Male" or "Female" DNA. Rather there are regions of DNA which are likely to result in a more male or more female anatomy, and also an intersexed anatomy. This brings me onto the next point where Amy Hinton says:

"Yes and no. Women's equality and LGBT rights should be fundamental rights we get at birth. I personally think it is sad that we live in a country where we have to define the rights of the citizenry to ensure proper equality while some groups are guaranteed freedoms just by winning some sort of genetic lottery (right gender, right sexuality, right color etc.)."

http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7302/

[readmoreoften]

1. What a beautiful response. This sums up my feelings about that article and adds quite a bit of hard

information into the mix.

Siedlberg is quite the spokesperson.