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.
Together we can make a difference.
m /A
raindroh
•
KEYSTONE
L isa F i n k l e
M
4110 Northeast 122nd Avenue, Suite 220, Portland, OR 97230
Connecting Portland to the World since 1985
Visit us online at:
www.reyreece.com
or schedule your appointment
503 - 256-3700
_
REY REECE DEALERSHIPS
hits the stands the first and third fridays of every month! Enjoy!
Call today for a
free qualification
over the phone
First Time Buyers ♦ FHA/VA Loons
Self-Employed • Complicated Borrowers
Bankruptcies & Foreclosures ♦ Credit Problems
Investment Properties • Pre-approvals
100% Financing Programs
"W hen u)e learned the landlord Was selling
our house, u)e called Christine in a panic. Being
Christine Hall
self employed, u)e thought it might be impossible
Senior Loan Consultant
President’s Club
to buy, but Christine came to the rescue. She
made the extra effort to get all our
p a perw ork in order and the loan
approved.
”
-
Patti & Joy, Rita s Flowers
û
503 698-5429
-
M r'M U i/V •
-
Pager
hollc@eoglehomemor1goge com
Portland's oldest locally ow ned ISP.’
In te rn et acc ess - dialup & high s p e e d D S L
W eb hosting
Unix shell acc ess
S p am filtering
Static IP ad d re sses
A ffordable $ 5 -1 5 /m o dialup. $ 2 0 D S L
ISUZU-VOLKSWAGEN-USED
Visit www.rdrop.com or dial in for details!
56K/ISDN access and signup 503-972-0365
122nd & East Burnside
wwrw.reyreece.com
You ca n ev en co n n ect to a
re a l live h u m an at 5 0 3 -5 7 4 -4 1 9 5
G ay ow n ed and op era ted
More Than
Candy... |*
$rt(ie
ti
s
w c t $;„
• Greeting Cards
• Gourm et Foods
• Beeswax & Soy Candles
-
800 343-9943
503 301-1941
ratories
v
Loan Officer
503.408.1432/c ell: 503.869.5692
sm
1560 Columbia Blvd.
St. Helens
(503) 366-9602
W estover H eights
C
L
I
N
I
C
Offering general internal
medicine and excelling
in sexual health care
Serving the community for 17 yearj
2 3 3 0 N W Flanders
Suite 207
503 - 226-6678