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Hello Friends of Intersex Initiative,
I'm sorry that I haven't been sending news and announcements for a while--I've been sick for much of the summer. We have some exciting things happening in the intersex movement and I'd like to update you on some of them.
First, the 1st annual Intersex Awareness Day is coming soon! IAD is a national day of intersex activism and education, which is held on or around October 26 to commemorate the very first intersex demo back in 1996. Events are being planned in San Francisco, Columbus, Albany, Chicago, New York City, Atlanta, and yes Portland Oregon of course. Please see:
<http://www.intersex-awareness-day.org/> for more details.
Next up, The New York Times had a fabulous article about intersex. It really shows the progress we've made in the past decade. If you haven't read it, here's the link:
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/19/fashion/19INTE.html>
On the other coast, San Francisco Human Rights Commission is coming closer to completing its investigation of human rights violations of intersex children, and I believe that Intersex Initiative has played a major role in shaping its findings and recommendations. You can read the recommendations we've submitted to the SFHRC online at:
<http://www.intersexinitiative.org/law/sfhrc-recommendations.html>
In the medical arena, we participated in the LGBTI Health Summit held in Boston this past August, addressing goals and priorities of intersex health activism. It was probably the first time Cheryl Chase (director of ISNA), Betsy Driver (Bodies Like Ours) and I came together at the same event, although unfortunately not at the same time. Download the text version of my presentation at the Health Summit at:
<http://www.intersexinitiative.org/pdf/healthsummit2004.pdf>
Now, fast forward to October 2004: American Academy of Pediatrics holding its annual meeting in San Francisco, and a small group of activists are planning to pass out fliers to doctors there. This is not a "protest"; rather, we see it as an opportunity to directly educate the nation's top pediatric experts about what intersex children really need and how doctors can help end shame, secrecy and isolation that surround the lives of intersex people.
The flier action is planned for 8:00-9:30am on Monday, October 11. Yes, it's early. Yes, it's on a weekday. But it's the best opportunity because that is when the keynote lecture is scheduled. If you can be at the Moscone Center in San Francisco at 8 in the morning, please email me at emi@intersexinitiative.org so that I can provide more details and answer any questions you may have. We need your help--I'll personally give you the wake-up call that morning if necessary.
Last but not least, a word about how our group is funded. Intersex Initiative is an independent activist group that receives no government, corporate or foundation funds. I chose to run it this way because I have witnessed in other groups I've participated how continuous need to write grants and deal with funders bogs down the actual creative and revolutionary activist work that must be done.
Instead, Intersex Initiative is primarily funded through speaking honoraria from presenting at various college campuses. This is perfect, because we can fund our activism by actually doing activism, instead of doing paperwork. And this is where you can help us too: if you are affiliated with any university or college, please check to see if any student group or department is interested in bringing in our presenters. We are often invited by LGBT student groups and offices, women's center, and women's studies department, but sometimes other groups, even some sororities, have co-sponsored our presentation (thanks, Beloit College sorority sistas!). If you are part of community groups, you could talk to schools in your area about co-sponsoring the presentation. You could also suggest us as one of the main presenters at any conference that are related to gender, sexuality, health, and human rights.
Of course, your individual donations (write check to Emi Koyama/IPDX, PO Box 40570 Portland OR 97240) are hugely appreciated--but you don't have to have a lot of money to help fund our work. Let's be creative and make activism sustainable.
Best,
Emi Koyama
Director, Intersex Initiative
http://www.intersexinitiative.org/
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