DON’T FORGET THE ‘I’ IN LGBTQIA+
“Intersex” is an umbrella term
for differences in sex traits or reproductive
anatomy. Intersex people
are born with these differences or
develop them in childhood. There
are many possible differences in
genitalia, hormones, internal anatomy
or chromosomes, compared
to the usual two ways that human
bodies develop. According to the
United Nations, up to 1.7 percent of
the world population are born with
intersex traits.
Medical professionals often encourage
parents and guardians
to agree to procedures to treat intersex
traits and variations in sex
characteristics, even when such
procedures are medically unnecessary.
Despite the prevalence of these
violations of basic human rights,
there is no federal or state law prohibiting
Much of the work of the intersex
community is aimed at ensuring
decisions around intersex bodies
are based on informed consent
and self determination, principals
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | JULY 2-JULY 8, 2021 11
OP-ED
BY DANIEL DROMM
I founded Queens Pride 29 years
ago to be a welcoming space for all
the borough’s diverse communities.
Through the years, I excitedly
watched as this colorful celebration,
with a serious political message,
grew. It seems every country is now
represented. The transgender presence,
always there from the beginning,
is ubiquitous at this point.
Many others of all stripes flock to
an event that is grounded in family,
friends and neighbors, not corporations.
And, of course, so many
straight allies have come to stand
with us, which always makes me
swell with emotion.
If asked to distill the essence of
Pride, I would say it is about creating
a home for all who do not conform
to rigid societal notions of
gender and sexuality. One group is
taking this a step further and challenging
the idea of what “normal”
bodies should look like: the intersex
community.
such procedures.
LAST WEEK’S TOP STORY:
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that should be very familiar to LGBTQIA+
and other liberation movements.
New York City has been leading
the way in seeking justice for the intersex
community. In April of this
year, the NYC Council passed my
legislation requiring the Department
of Health and Mental Hygiene
to conduct a public information and
outreach campaign regarding medically
unnecessary treatments on individuals
born with intersex traits
or variations in sex characteristics.
Most notably, the input of members
of the intersex community will
play a key role in the development of
this program. With proper information,
New Yorkers will now be more
likely to understand the adverse
effects of coercive “normalizing”
medical interventions.
Prompted by this legislation and
the work of advocates, NYC Health
+ Hospitals has decided to end the
practice of medically unnecessary
surgeries on children with intersex
traits. Sadly, other prominent institutions,
including Weill Cornell,
still prey upon the unfounded fears
of parents and guardians in pursuit
of lucrative yet unethical practices.
I applaud this tremendous step forward
and hope that it will encourage
private hospitals in the city to
follow suit.
We cannot as an LGBTQIA+
movement, or as a society for that
matter, say that we respect the right
to bodily integrity and the foundational
concept of consent yet ignore
the injustices perpetrated by much
of the medical establishment against
our intersex siblings. So let’s celebrate
the “I” this Pride Month and
commit to ending this particularly
insidious form of violence!
To learn more about the intersex
community and find out how you
can help, visit interactadvocates.
org.
Daniel Dromm is the city councilman
for District 25 in Queens,
which covers Elmhurst and Jackson
Heights.
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