It wasn’t until she was 40 years old that Kimberly Zieselman first encountered the word “intersex” after reading her medical records.

Until then, he had spent his life unaware of his true identity. Now 59, she serves as a senior advisor on global intersex rights at the LGBTQ+ organization. Direct International.

Zieselman, who has a background as a lawyer, began advocating for the human rights of intersex people after learning the truth about herself.

Celebrated every year on October 26 National Intersex DayIntersex Awareness Day, also known as Intersex Awareness Day, aims to draw attention to human rights issues faced by intersex people, including “shame, secrecy and genital surgeries on children.”

Close to 1.7 percent of the world’s population is born intersex; This figure is roughly equal to the number of redheads.

‘A huge relief’

according to Cleveland Clinic: “The sexual organs, chromosomes or reproductive organs of intersex people do not conform to the male/female gender binary. Their sexual organs may not match their reproductive organs, or they may have characteristics of both.”

Zieselman told PinkNews that discovering she was intersex was both “shocking” and a “huge relief.” Referring to the operations he had in the early 80s, he continues: “I say this because I was lied to about what was done to me. “My family didn’t even fully understand it.”

He was born with XY chromosomes and internal testes, which are typically male. But she appeared phenotypically female, meaning her intersex identity was not discovered at birth.

Later in life, he was informed that he had partially formed female reproductive organs that “will turn cancerous if not removed urgently.” This led to more surgery.

She was also told that she would need hormone therapy and would never be able to have children. She and her husband have since adopted two children from China.

“I felt so alone in the world, I was encouraged to keep it secret,” she says of the surgery.

After a decade of cancer examinations, he was finally told there was no need to return. But it turns out he was never at risk of cancer; instead, he claims, doctors removed “very healthy testicles that could have been left in place.” “They wanted normalize my body.”

Even before discovering her intersex identity, she always had “a nagging feeling complicated by shame and stigma.”

Zieselman describes intersex as a “broad umbrella term” but one that is not always “accurately or authentically represented” in the media.

Despite studies and organizations such as Human Rights Watch and While Amnesty International condemns medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex youth, gender normalization operations continue to take place in some US states. Georgia and Kentucky Procedures are allowed to be performed on babies with “ambiguous gender characteristics,” which is true for almost the entire intersex population.

Zieselman’s goal is to reach a point where there is no rush to “fix or ‘normalize’ a child.”

Misconceptions about intersex people

Regarding misconceptions, she points out that many people assume that intersex people have non-binary gender identities. The vast majority identify as male or female, although some are.

Another common belief, Zieselman adds, is that it “is associated with being transgender.” “Again, intersex individuals may have a trans identity, but the vast majority do not.”

Although he acknowledges the challenges he faces, he never “waves a magic wand” to erase his identity.

“I have a full, rich life, and being intersex has become a big part of my activist identity. “This is something I am passionate about.” And she remains committed to “continuing to raise awareness” and “eradicating human rights violations” so that intersex people around the world can live their lives to the fullest.

Someone to watch: As common as Red Hair

As common as Red HairThe short film, which raises awareness about intersex individuals and the difficulties they face, will be published on YouTube as part of the awareness day celebrations.

The 15-minute film, which Zieselman executive produces and also features his gay friend Robbie Robertson, who also directed, follows a grieving mother and father who reflect on their decision to have their intersex child undergo gender normalization surgery.

In August, Adeline Berrywho is intersex and transgender, told PinkNews about finding love after struggling with lifelong complications of genital surgery.

you can watch As common as Red Hair Here after it went live.

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