Pidgeon Pagonis—recognized by the White House in 2015 as an LGBT Champion of Change—is an intersex activist fighting for human rights and liberation. They appear on the cover of the January, 2017 National Geographic Magazine special Gender Revolution issue.
For over a decade, Pidgeon has been a leader in the intersex movement’s fight for bodily autonomy and justice. Pidgeon says they’re trying to deconstruct the dangerous myths that lead to violations of intersex people’s human rights. These include common, irreversible medical procedures performed without consent to make intersex bodies conform to binary sex stereotypes.
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| National Geographic Magazine / Via nationalgeographic.com |
What is Intersex?
Even though there are about as many intersex people as there are people with red hair, the term is not well understood. In fact, after reading National Geographic’s description of intersex, Pidgeon successfully advocated for the article to be changed to replace stigmatizing language with information from the United Nations Free & Equal project.
According to the Free & Equal Intersex Fact Sheet: Intersex people are born with sex characteristics that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies. Intersex is an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of natural bodily variations. In some cases, intersex traits are visible at birth while in others, they are not apparent until puberty or may not be physically apparent at all.
What is it Like to be Intersex? Watch this video to find out.
#IntersexStories, Not Surgeries!
Two years ago, Pidgeon organized an international twitter storm and hundreds of people were inspired to share their #IntersexStories during the hashtag campaign.
An article about the online action reported 4.2 million people were reached by 4,715 tweets sent out by 1,277 participating accounts.
#IntersexStories not surgeries bc @UN recognizes what happens to us as human rights abuses! https://t.co/iNqRtDkcWS pic.twitter.com/VOBZYIvISi— #intsxsurgeryispetty (@Pidgejen) October 27, 2015
Next Up for Pidgeon: Film, Talks and Art
Pidgeon is an educator, artist and documentary filmmaker who is always on the move. In 2017, they plan a wide public release of their short film, “The Son I Never Had: Growing Up Intersex."
You’ll be able to catch Pidgeon giving talks and film screenings on campuses around the country, on topics ranging from “Intersex Issues and History” to “Queer, Non-Binary & Asexual identities.”
If you’re looking to show off your non-binary support, check out the prints and t-shirts in Pidgeon’s online shop, IntersexisBeautiful.
Follow Pidgeon on Youtube, on Twitter at @Pidgejen and get more info on their website, pidgeonismy.name.
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