Some of AIC’s most impressive 2011 accomplishments…
The Apology Project, Resolve, Expands – After last year’s historic apology from medical providers to an intersex patient, AIC is now expanding our campaign to include individual as well as institutional apologies. AIC is also working with a filmmaker to document the historic process of our community beginning to heal.
Former Surgeon General and Pediatric Endocrinologist, Joycelyn Elders Supports AIC! – AIC leaders had a very productive meeting with Former Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders. Dr. Elders stated in a recent keynote address that past treatment of children with DSD was harmful, and has offered to help AIC in our efforts! This connection is significant, as activists have tried approaching Dr. Elders since the mid-1990’s, but AIC is the first organization to inspire her to state publicly that old models of treatment were mistaken.
AIC’s Youth Project, Inter/Act, Moves Forward – The future is here. The first and only intersex youth leadership group, Inter/Act, has staked its claim in the conversation through its new blog found at www.inter-actyouth.tumblr.com. This is only a first step toward projecting the voices of the next generation of intersex activists. Before AIC, no one successfully offered young people living with a difference of sex development a public platform to share their experience and perspectives. Stay tuned!
Changing Passports Gets Easier – AIC has made it easier for an intersex person to change the gender on his or her passport. We worked with the U.S. State Department and ally organizations to make sure policies about changing sex markers on these documents wouldreflect an awareness and sensitivity to the challenges faced by our community. We were able to remove some offensive and unhelpful language and craft a greatly improved policy.
The NCAA Calls on AIC – We continue our work helping to shape policy on intersex inclusion in sports. With help from AIC, The Women’s Sports Foundation issued a strong position paper, and recently the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) requested our assistance with drafting a policy of their own.
AIC Represented at First-Ever International Intersex Forum – Jim Bruce, AIC’s Communications & Youth Coordinator, received a scholarship from the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex Association (ILGA) to represent AIC at the First-Ever International Intersex Forum in Brussels, Belgium. From September 2-5 the historic event assembled 24 activists representing 17 intersex organizations from all continents.
UCSF Parents’ Group Started with AIC’s Advocacy – Thanks to AIC’s persistent advocacy, our sister organization, DSD Discourse, was able to start a support group for parents at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. AIC’s Anne Tamar-Mattis briefed parents on medical privacy at their first meeting.
AIC Produces Documentary Retrospective – AIC is producing the 10th Anniversary retrospective of the award-winning documentary, “XXXY”. The screening/reception will take place in San Francisco on January 26, 2012. Filmmaker Magazine calls “XXXY” “essential filmmaking” as it “concisely and powerfully conveys horror, injustice and tremendous personal fortitude.” This 13-minute documentary features two adults, Howard and Kristi, who were subjected to extensive nonconsensual cosmetic genital surgery as infants and teenagers because they were born with intersex conditions. Q&A will follow with filmmaker Porter Gale and Anne Tamar-Mattis, Executive Director of AIC. Purchase your tickets today!
U.S. Refugee Policy Influenced – You last read about AIC’s immigration work in an asylum case for a West African mother and child who had been persecuted in their home country because the child was born with a DSD. After that case was won, we used the lessons and research we gathered to provide training for agencies working with refugees and asylees. Soon, we were affecting training and policy with federal agencies and even the United Nations. Today AIC is influencing policy on how intersex refugees are treated around the world. AIC has consulted with the UN High Commission on Refugees helping government bodies and NGO’s see these formerly invisible refugees. Recently, we led training for members of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS) Research Unit.
In The Public Eye – Anne Tamar-Mattis delivered lectures at Syracuse University College of Law (N.Y.), California Pacific Public Health Training Center, ORAM (Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration), AIS-DSD Support Group for Women and Families’ Annual Conference, UC Berkeley School of Law, The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, and The World Professional Association of Transgender Health. AIC also garnered mention in The Huffington Post, ABCNews.com, Change.org, Onislam.net, and was featured in The Global Herald, and at Nolo Press!
And More…- In 2011, so far, Advocates for Informed Choice offered education and assistance to:
· 58 parents,
· 54 affected adults,
· 244 medical providers,
· 95 law students, and
· 25 youth with intersex conditions/DSD.
Please support AIC today!
