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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 2003)
January 17.2003 - Just 0 * 1 * 2 5 child is different, the feeling that being dif ferent from o n e s peers is so horrific that any intervention is justifiable. T h e “queer bodies” Koyama speaks o f have an enormous power hut also represent a considerable threat to cultures used to enforcing rigid render norms. W ith the queer com m unity now well entrenched in the larger world and activism expected, if not always w elcom e, there’s little the m ed ical com m unity can d o hut accept (even if there’s still a long way to go). A n d education on homosexuality and transsexuality has been increasingly widespread, allowing a consistent, undeniable discussion o f these issues. O n the other hand, intersex people, most of them altered irrevocably at or near birth, continue to he defined largely by the medical community. Are intersex people and queer people thus natural partners in this struggle? It’s a com plicated issue. Koyama’s work extends into many activist areas (she describes herself as a “ multi-issue social justice slut” ), and she has found impor tant allies in the queer community. “ In 1996 the Transsexual M enace said: ‘ You should do direct action. You can’t just have a conversa tion with people who want to eliminate you.’ So [ISNA] had the first public demonstration in Boston," she says, during a big medical c o n ference. Activists handed out fliers, alerted the media and had an intersex person and several transsexuals help with questions and comments. “T h e media went to see the doctors,” remembers Koyama, “ and they denied it. So we went hack and found the docum ent from the A M A and said, ‘Lixsk, this is the m ed ical standard that they publish, this is what they say.’ ” Shedding light on the disparity between perceived outcome o f patient care and reality is 1 SN A’s strong point. “The doctors always say all the patients are happy with what they receive," grouses Koyama. “ I met a doctor who told me that every single patient was satisfied with the treatment. We knew three people who were operated on by this same guy— what the diKtors really mean is that nobody has threatened to kill them!" ARE T H E Y Q U E E R ? oyama has compiled the pamphlet Introduction to Intersex Activism: A Guide for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Allies. It offers a basic intnxluction to the topic and suggests ways to build coalitions between the intersex and queer communities, including listening to intersex people, support ing the work o f intersex activists and being realistic in understanding that there are differ ences in priorities and agendas between the two— including the serious medical issues affecting the intersexed. Asked the inevitable question o f whether “ I” should he added to GLBT, Koyama cau tions: “ Intersex people as a group generally do not take it on as an identity the way that many G LBT people d o .... If a group or organization is about pride and cultural activi ties, adding T may not include most intersex people hut only certain ones who claim inter sex as an identity." A n identity, however, can provide activist clout. “T here’s a certain political sig nificance to taking it on as an identity,” Koyama notes. "Som e organizations have added T without really thinking. But we IISNA and others) are talking about stop ping people from butchering kids. H onoring diversity and celebrating bodies is wonderful, hut it’s not the agenda we have as intersex activists." jn Want to learn more? he W eb has been an essential part o f publicizing and building the intersex movement, countering misperceptions and making the many issues that surround intersex intelligible. Here are a few places to surf for important resources and virtual com munity centers: • Intersex Society o f North America: www.isna.org • Bodies Like Ours: 908-832-7755 or www.bodies- likeours.org • Emi Koyama: www.eminism.org • Intersex Initiative Portland: 503-288-3191 or www.ipdx.org T in tersex in itia tiv e portland Donating 20% o f my fee to a charity o f your choice. 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