When thinking about intersex/trans/GNC people, [tongue in cheek] I disagree with some whose work I look up to greatly, such as Eli Clare's scholarship on disability, and believe we indeed need to work together to find a cure [/tongue in cheek]. It's beyond time we invent a joint-cure for this useless and diseased binary society and it's sick and unfit social engineers -- those within the Medical Industrial Complex who perform harmful non-consensual "normalizing" procedures on intersex/trans/GNC kids such as Dr. Earl Cheng, a pediatric urologist at @luriechildrens who still defends and performd clitorecromies on intersex kids. Comment below other names of people in the Medical Industrial Complex who we need to cure. It's time we #CUREtheMIC • • • • • • #intersex #intersexstories #intersexisbeautiful #toocutetobebinary #nonbinary #trans #gnc #queer #lgbtqia #lgbtqi #lgbtq #lgbt #lgbt🌈 #medicalindustrialcomplex #humanrights (at Chicago, Illinois)
My friend @fknroyal's tweet yesterday about not everyone healing the same way had me reflecting this morning in my journal like... • • • Growing up intersex, I was often met with a kind of tough love from my family. They would often tell me at my worst moments that I should be grateful for what I have (which is true, but not what I need go hear in those moments.) They didn't do this out of malice, but out of a place of love and fear for what would happen to me If I drowned in my sorrow in a society that punishes those of us who don't "move on." I'm hoping when you are down and out and balling in a puddle (or punching a shower curtain), you have people around you who can witness and then reflect back the realities of your pain all the while holding you and asking you what you need. 🌱
Featuring as a guest on @nancypodcast live in Chicago this weekend at a really beautiful old school theatre (in my hometown) is definitely up there on my list of "favorite things about being an intersex educator & activist!" As the year wraps up, I'd like to remind everyone that no matter what they tell you -- sex and gender are not mutually exclusive and they're definitely NOT binary. Our society needs to keep chugging along towards understanding that everything is complex, and our bodies and genders are not exempt. Once society says goodbye to its current obsession with a binary way of viewing sex and gender (which has its roots the colonizer's worldview that was forced upon Native Americans), then I believe we all take one giant step forward towards the collective liberation we all are fighting for (especially queer, trans, GNC, & intersex people). If you'd like to book me to speak, show my short documentary, consult your high school's biology department, keynote, or give a workshop...please don't hesitate to send me an email [email protected] (link in bio). I'm currently beginning to book 2018 dates as we speak, and would love to visit you wherever youre are. (P.S. In 2017 I manifested that I wanted make intersex awareness my full-time gig with a secondary goal of trying to speak at more medical colleges and hospitals. Thanks to Rush University, UIC College of Medicine and UW-Milwaukee's School of Nursing I have begun to see the realization of that intention. In 2018, I want to manifest a few more things: 1. Speak and show my film to more clinicians/Nurses and medical students. 2. Build on the success of our small yet mighty group: Intersex People of Color for Justice (and collaborate on more actions and protests at Childrens' Hospitals). 3. Begin to lay the groundwork necessary to purchase a home one day for my dog Callie and I 🙃 Thank you for all your support, love, and guidance along the way! ▪️ beautiful photos cc: @loveandstrugglephotos • • • • • #✨ #intersexstories #intersex #lgbt #collegespeaker #lgbtq #lgbtqia #queer #nonbinary #gender #genderqueer #intersexisbeautiful #nb #trans #lgbtq🌈 #keynotespeaker #keynotepresenter #collegepresenter (at The Athenaeum Theatre - Chicago)
#TBT speaking and screening my #intersex documentary The Son I Never Had at Beloit College. Thank you so much for having me! It was super cute :) 📷: @TessLydon (at Beloit College)
#LurieEndSurgery is a movement led by Intersex People of Color for Justice. Read our 2017 statement: http://bit.ly/2z8uCtn. Intersex People of Color for Bodily Autonomy & Justice seeks to uplift overlaps between state violence against black and brown folks & intersex people. Our 1st action as a collective, #LurieEndSurgery, is today 12 noon out front Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago on 225 E. Chicago Ave. All the help info is at endintersexsurgery.org and the fb event is: bit.ly/IADCHI2017. #LurieEndSurgery is the 1st, in many actions at hospitals nationally, under the umbrella hashtag #EndIntersexSurgery that we'll support. Lurie recently got wind of our protest and sent out this "high alert" message to staff (photo below). What's most telling is they never mention what our "extreme position" is, so I'll make it loud & clear for Lurie: Our extreme position is that Lurie ends medically unnecessary genital surgeries on intersex kids. We're demanding intersex children be protected under the Hypocratic Oath's tenent of First Do No Harm like other children. The point being, Lurie's Sex Development Program, is still performing MEDICALLY UNNECESSARY genital and gonadal surgeries on intersex kids. Lurie's Sex Development Program is continuing a practice that's in direct conflict w today's U.S. Department of State's statement (photo of statement below) which condemns these unnecessary surgeries! So if u believe in our "extreme position" (bodily autonomy for all!) please join us at noon out front of Lurie to demand #LurieEndSurgery (at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago)
Today's Intersex Awareness Day! Come out at noon to protest Lurie Children's Hospital at 225 E Chicago Ave. Look for this banner :) Make sure to use #LurieEndSurgery ❤️ oh, and don't forget, our "extreme position" is that we demand Lurie ends medically unnecessary genital surgeries on #intersex children. . . . . . . #intersexawarenessday #intersexawarenessday2#iad2017 #iad #lgbtq #lgbt #lgbtqia #lgbt🌈 #nonbinary #trans #queer
[First photo were screaming: #FuckYoSurgery] Last night, people from all across the city (and country) came together at the wonderful amazing @plusgallerychicago (support them w/ meetings & events!) and we drank tea, created banners/signs, and talked about why we support intersex people having the right to make THEIR OWN decisions about THEIR OWN bodies when it comes to hormones, gonadal and genital surgeries. Tomorrow, on Intersex Awareness Day, we're bringing those banners, signs and our voices directly to one of the culprit's doorsteps: Lurie Children's Hospital (who's Sex Development Program is still performing medically unnecessary surgeries!) located at 225 E. Chicago Ave at 12 noon. We need you there to support this growing movement. There's a link in my bio with all the info about this specific demonstration. Thank you so much to everyone who came out last night. Special shoutout to youth of @mujereslatinasenacci for participating. I love you all very very much. Photos cc: @loveandstrugglephotos #LurieEndSurgery #endintersexsurgery . . . . . . #intersex #intersexstories #intersexawareness #intersexawarenessday #intersexawarenessmonth #intersexawarenessday2017 #iad2017 #iad #lgbtqia #lgbt #lgbt🌈 #lgbtq #nonbinary #queer #gay #queeraf #gayaf #humanrights (at Plus Gallery Chicago)