Famous intersex people across history and continents

Intersex people make up about one percent of the population. That may seem like a very small percentage of all humanity, but when you factor in how many people are on the planet, it actually amounts to tens of millions. Let's take a look at some notable intersex people. A mini-excursion from the nineteenth century to the present day begins right now!

But first, let's talk about what it means to be intersex. Intersex refers to natural biological variations that do not fit into the traditional categories of male or female. These variations can be related to chromosomes, hormones, or anatomy, and are often present at birth. If you

Abel Barbin

Abel Barbin was a French* intersex teacher who lived in the nineteenth century. She was declared a woman at birth, given the name Herculine, and was able to study in a convent and then at a teacher training college thanks to a church scholarship. Based on several physical characteristics (non-menstruation, flat chest and facial hair), she was sent for a medical examination, after which she was declared a man. He subsequently changed his name to Abel Barbin. At the age of twenty-nine, he committed suicide, and his autobiography was found in his apartment, in which he wrote about his life before transitioning in the female gender and after transitioning in the male gender. More than a century later, the autobiography was discovered and published by the French philosopher Michel Foucault, thanks to which Abel Barbin's story became known. The day of his birth (November 8) is International Intersex Day. Abel's story raised important questions about gender identity, medical care, and 19th-century social pressure that are still relevant today.

Source: thelagyprojectshicago.org

Madeleine Blaustein

Madeleine Blaustein is known to children and adults in the US primarily as the voice actress for the Pokémon Meowth, but she also worked as an actress and comic book artist. She was not only intersex, but also a transgender woman and died in 2008 at the age of 48 from unspecified stomach problems.

Source: Wikipedia

Tony Briffa

Australian Tony Briffa holds two world firsts: He is the first publicly known intersex person to hold a mayor's or council position and the first publicly known intersex person to ever hold a public political office. He became deputy mayor of Hobsons Bay in the Australian province of Victoria in 2009 and took up the mayoral position in 2011. Today, he no longer works in politics, but he does speak publicly about human rights. Tony's story is an inspiration - it shows how personal courage can lead to positive changes in society.

Source: Briffa.org

Eliana Rubashkyn

Unfortunately, LGBTQ+ people fleeing persecution is nothing new. This was the case for Colombian Eliana Rubashkyn, who fled her homeland in 2012 after being stabbed in the street. She was detained in Hong Kong while fleeing because her official gender did not match her appearance, and spent several more years in detention before being granted refugee status a year later. She then moved to New Zealand, where she also obtained citizenship.

Source: 1news.co.nz

Caster Semenya

South African athlete Caster Semenya has been in the spotlight for years after she was forced to undergo genetic testing to determine her gender, a feat she has achieved as a runner. At one point, she was forced to take testosterone-suppressing drugs that reportedly made her sick, leading to a lawsuit against the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The case went all the way to the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled in Semenya's favor, but the IAAF still requires intersex athletes to have testosterone levels below a certain threshold.

Source: Slate.com

Hanne Gaby Odiele

Belgian model Hanne Gaby Odiele has become one of the most prominent intersex activists of our time. She began speaking publicly about her experiences in 2017 and has since been involved in campaigns to fight unnecessary surgeries on intersex children. Her courage and openness have inspired many people, not just in the LGBTQ+ community.

Source: Wikipedia

Pidgeon Pagonis

Pidgeon Pagonis is an American intersex activist who has turned her personal experiences into campaigns to protect the rights of intersex people. Pagonis has spoken out publicly against unethical medical procedures performed on them without consent when they were children. Through documentaries, workshops, and media appearances, she seeks to raise awareness about the rights of intersex people and the harm caused by societal norms that ignore the existence of biological variation.

Source: NPR.org

Did I forget anyone? Be sure to let me know! I'll be happy to write about them again next time.