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Hello Friends of IPDX,
As you know, Intersex Initiative was started in the current form in January 2003. It means that our baby is turning one year old next month! Woo hoo!! So anyway, I'm hoping to have a small birthday party (yes, we're dorky like that) for IPDX for all volunteers, advisors, supporters, sugardaddies/mamas and friends to get together! We're still looking into date and venue, but our first pick is to have it in the evening of Thursday, January 8 (if that doesn't work out, we'll try 7th or 6th).
What will happen at the party? We don't know everything yet, but it will involve the screening of the fabulous new intersex documentary film "Mani's Story," plus live performances by local spoken-word talents. So keep your schedule open for that evening, and stay tuned for more information...
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Today, Intersex Initiative launches "End Genital Mutilation in the U.S. and Abroad," a new website designed to inform campus V-DAY 2004 organizers about intersex issues and urge them to help end the intersex genital mutilation. V-DAY is a "global movement working to end the violence against women and girls," including the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), and has since 2001 taken the position against intersex genital mutilation in Western societies as well.
Below is the "appeal" email sent to several feminist/queer academic email lists. Please forward it to your local campus V-DAY 2004 organizers (visit <http://events.vday.org> to find your local V-DAYs).
Every Day, Five Children
in the U.S. Have Their
Healthy Genitals Mutilated.
End Genital Mutilation in the U.S. and Abroad!
URL: <http://www.ipdx.org/vday>
The notion "genital mutilation" evokes the image of the traditional, ritualistic cutting of young women's bodies in Africa, but its equally ritualistic high-tech version is widely practiced in the U.S. and other Western countries in relative secrecy. Since 1950s, children born with intersex conditions, or physiological anomalies of the reproductive and sexual organs, have been "treated" with "normalizing" surgeries that many survivors say are damaging to their sexual and emotional well-being. Today it is estimated that five children undergo these invasive and irreversible surgeries every day in the U.S.--or about 2,000 children in a year.
In January 2002, V-DAY's national office released a joint press release along with Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) that clarified its position about intersex genital mutilation. Not only did V-DAY publicly endorse ISNA's mission to end shame, secrecy and unwanted genital surgeries on children born with intersex conditions, it also urged "participants of its College Campaign and Worldwide Campaign to raise the awareness about intersex experiences" and to "consider contributing a portion of their proceeds to help end the intersex genital mutilation.
So, join the movement to end genital mutilation here and abroad--help us spread the word about intersex genital mutilation through your campus V-DAY events! Visit the URL below to find out more about intersex movement and how your campus V-DAY can help:
<http://www.ipdx.org/vday/>
Or, see V-DAY's press release:
<http://www.vday.org/contents/vday/press/alertsandpressrel/vdayendorsesisna>
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ALSO IN THE NEWS:
Thea Hillman is producing "SHAMELESS: An Evening of Performances Reflecting Intersex Experiences" as a benefit for Intersex Society of North America. The event will take place in San Francisco on December 6, and feature Bay Area activist/artists Solidad diCosta, Thea Hillman, Aidan Kotler, Robert Lawrence, Shar Rednour, Elias se Mbessakwini, and Hida Viloria, plus IPDX director Emi Koyama from Portland. Below is the blurb from Thea--please forward if you know of anyone who lives in the Bay Area!
* SHAMELESS*
An Evening of Performances Reflecting Intersex Experiences
A Benefit for the Intersex Society of North America
Saturday Dec 6, Doors & Silent Auction 7:30 pm; Show 8:00 pm
Location: SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market St @ Octavia
Tickets: $10-50 Sliding Scale (no one turned away for lack of funds).
Pre-purchase at http://www.harveymilk.org
FEATURING local stars:
Solidad diCosta, Thea Hillman, Aidan Kotler, Robert Lawrence, Shar Rednour, Elias se Mbessakwini, Hida Viloria, and the fabulous MC Fairy Butch
AND ALL THE WAY FROM PORTLAND:
Emi Koyama of eminism.org and Intersex Initiative Portland
SHAMELESS is an evening of raw and powerful spoken word and performance. It's an opportunity to learn about intersex, get some cool stuff from local merchants and artists, and to support the Intersex Society of North America (ISNA). ISNA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a world free of shame, secrecy, and unwanted genital surgeries for children born with sex anatomy that someone decided isn't standard for male or female.
ASL interpreting provided and event is wheelchair accessible. Please contact by December 1 to reserve special seating or for other accommodations. Info & Requests: shameless4isna@hotmail.com
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