interACT Advocates

Lauren smiles at the camera with an "interCircle" logo above her and stars shooting out of a purple-and-green background. Lauren has medium-light skin and dark, shoulder-length hair. Lauren has red glasses, lipstick and wears a denim top.

"As a social worker and researcher, I became a monthly donor after receiving education on intersex issues and witnessing the system-level impact of youth-led advocacy. I continue to support interACT because accurate, affirming communication about sex and gender differences has never been more vital. Intersex people deserve the tools, platforms, and community support to lead, teach, and thrive. I hope you’ll join me in the interCircle to sustain this work!" - Lauren

"Accurate, affirming communication about sex and gender differences has never been more vital." Will you join Lauren in our giving community for intersex joy + justice, the interCircle, today? interactadvocates.org/interCircle

The end result of this is that a bunch of cis women athletes are going to find out they're intersex.

The World Athletics Council's new regulations forcing genetic testing for all women athletes is the exact discriminatory and invasive medical probing that intersex and transgender people have been warning about. A blood test or cheek swab, testing required only for women, shares private medical information with the governing body. Forced genetic testing also risks “outing” an intersex athlete who may not even know they have a difference in their genetics. The regulations appear to exempt women with exactly one intersex variation, complete androgen insensitivity (CAIS). Few women with other variations would be permitted to compete at all, and are required to strictly reduce their hormone levels, regardless of what is best for their health. No transgender women would be eligible under the regulations. All women and girls should be allowed to compete in the sport they love, free from invasive sex testing, restrictions, discrimination, and forced changes to their own bodies.

Women athletes are targeted again.

The World Athletics Council's new regulations forcing genetic testing for all women athletes is the exact discriminatory and invasive medical probing that intersex and transgender people have been warning about.

Reminder to all! It's totally fine & helpful to speak about intersex issues without being intersex, just make sure you get educated and amplify intersex voices when you see them.

interactadvocates.org/faq/

Thousands march through Dublin in record-breaking Trans and Intersex Pride 2025 10,000 people gathered in Dublin city centre on Saturday for the annual Trans and Intersex Pride march 2025.

Thousands march through Dublin in record-breaking Trans and Intersex Pride 2025

Over 10,000 people took to the streets for Trans and Intersex Pride 2025, demanding healthcare, housing, and rights for all!

… But you won’t see this mentioned in the mainstream media! 😣

gcn.ie/thousands-du...

If you don't mind a recommendation, this resource "I Think I Might Be Intersex" from @tigerrsmm.bsky.social is so helpful!

interactadvocates.org/wp-content/u...

Wait til they find out it's as common as red hair or green eyes (they won't believe it anyway)

The page links to research citing this number, we didn't make it up. It might sound unbelievably common, but it's true!

Our Bodies, Our Decisions: A Response to Andrew Sullivan’s NYT Essay In a recent New York Times, author Andrew Sullivan, a conservative British-American political commentator and former editor of The New Republic, argues that the trans movement has gone too far, pro…

Andrew Sullivan’s NYT essay reinforces harmful transphobic tropes and misses the opportunity to unite the LGBTQI+ community. Professor Elizabeth Reis wonders where the worry is for the children who ARE facing medical harm—intersex kids.

nursingclio.org/2025/07/16/o...

What is Intersex? Frequently Asked Questions Intersex is an umbrella term for differences in sex traits or reproductive anatomy.

Intersex people are about 1.7% of the population, and many doctors and scientists believe this is an underestimation.
interactadvocates.org/faq/#howcommon

What is Intersex? Frequently Asked Questions Intersex is an umbrella term for differences in sex traits or reproductive anatomy.

Intersex people are not close to 1 in a million — we are at least 2% of the population, the same as red hair. Should people with red hair shave their heads to fit in?

interactadvocates.org/faq/#howcommon

Maybe they don't see intersex women as women, the same way they don't see trans women as women... 😬

Help! What do I say to someone who just had an intersex baby?" A card reads: Congratulations!

A baby that couldn't be easily declared "It's a boy!" or "It's a girl!" at birth was once considered a "social emergency."

They were wrong. A healthy baby is not an emergency! With support & love, an intersex child can thrive as they are.

So, what do you say to a new parent? CONGRATULATIONS!

It's not complex. She is a woman and deserves to race with women without being made to change her body's hormones. Imagine forcing any other athlete to undergo invasive, unwanted body alterations to participate in the sport they love?

Even in the 19th century, many doctors were aware of intersex traits such as ovotestes and reproductive anatomy. Herculine Barbin, an intersex French woman from the mid-1800s, had her memoirs later published by the philosopher Foucault. So why have doctors, hundreds of years later, not caught up? 🤔

It's okay to shave. It's not okay to have shaving pushed upon someone who does not want to. Shaving is often a gendered expectation. Women deserve to make their own choices about their own bodies.

Trans/intersex pride parade in Dublin

“I Won’t Change My Body to Fit Your Expectations”: Reflections From a Masculine Woman with PCOS I’m a masculine intersex woman, and I’m not broken. Knowing I have PCOS has made me feel more whole than I’ve ever been—facial hair and all.

I knew something was off when I started growing facial hair at 12 years old. Now, it's something I’ve come to embrace.

I am a masculine, intersex woman. I am at home in my body and refuse to change it, just to fit your restraining expectations of womanhood.

interactadvocates.org/i-wont-chang...

Human rights group urges trans people to update passports 'as soon as possible' Human rights organisation American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has urged US trans people to update their passports “as soon as possible”.

Human rights organisation American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has urged US transgender people to update their passports “as soon as possible”.

'Ponyboi': an Intersex Coming-of-Age Story Wrapped In a High-Octane Neo-Noir Mob Chase Catch them if you can.

"But this isn’t just a story about one sex worker’s rough night. Ponyboi is intersex, after all — and like many “queer films” (and not just “films featuring queer characters”), Ponyboi is a movie uniquely interested in the fluidity of identity."

www.them.us/ponyboi-review

Disability Advocacy and Intersex Advocacy Have a Lot in Common - AAPD By Courtney Felle, Summer Internship Program alumni, 2020 and 2021 I am queer because I am disabled; I am disabled because I am queer.  I was born with a rare form of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (C...

Medicaid cuts disproportionately harm both disabled and intersex people. “Optional” services would be the first to be cut. Of course, we know that these services aren’t really “optional.” They are vital to our survival.

Youth advocate Courtney Felle writes for @aapd.com
www.aapd.com/disability-a...

Sundance Review: 'Ponyboi' Is a First for Intersex Representation Onscreen Ponyboi is an incredibly important work and one that will hopefully pave the way for more intersex representation on screen.

PONYBOI (out now!) is an important work & one that will hopefully pave the way for more intersex representation on screen. It may feel familiar plot-wise, but it presents a thought-provoking & personal story with a stunning turn from River Gallo. #FilmSky www.pajiba.com/film_reviews...

In new indie flick ‘Ponyboi,’ River Gallo sheds light on an intersex experience Out June 27 in theaters nationwide, 'Ponyboi' arrives at a critical time for the queer Latine community.

Just got out of a screening of “Ponyboi” and this film just knocked me off my feet. For De Los, @carlosfilm.bsky.social spoke to River Gallo, the star and writer of this wonderful neo noir www.latimes.com/delos/story/...

Una Noche con River Gallo. July 26th, 2025 Theatre N-Wilmington Tickets - TheatreN.com Orgullo Delaware and the Delaware Sexuality and Gender Collective are proud to host a special night with the incredible River Gallo! River Gallo is a Salvadoran-American filmmaker, actor, model, and intersex rights activist. River wrote, directed, and acted in the film Ponyboi (2025), which was the first film to feature an openly intersex actor playing an intersex person. River also starred in the movie Every Body (2023) which documents the lives and tells the stories of three intersex individuals. Join us as we speak to River about their life as the child of immigrant parents, their activism, and their film career! Tickets include a showing of Every Body at 4pm. QA to follow. Advanced Tickets Required. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Images of the logos for all participating organizations, the cover for the movie Every Body, and River Gallo, who is a Salvadoran-American intersex person with dark, long curly hair. They are posed with their hand on their knee wearing a leather tan jacket, black shirt and patterned pants.

We are proud to partner on a special night celebrating intersex activist, filmmaker & model River Gallo, known for their film Ponyboi (2025), & starring in Every Body (2023). Hear about life as the child of immigrant parents, activism & their film career!

Tickets: www.theatren.com/movie/every-...

Image of Emily with the interCircle logo. Emily is an 80+ year old transgender woman with light skin, gray short hair, and glasses. She smiles at the camera in a red shirt. The background has yellow stars against a green and purple gradiant.

I am Emily Newberry, an 80 plus year old transgender woman. When I learned of the challenges intersex youth face I knew I needed to make a contribution. I don't have a high income, but intersex youth need and deserve everyone's support. Intersex rights are human rights. -Emily An image of the interCircle logo, and the same smiling image of Emily from the first slide.

“I am Emily Newberry, an 80 plus year old transgender woman. When I learned of the challenges intersex youth face I knew I needed to make a contribution.”

Intersex & trans rights are human rights. Will you join Emily in our giving community, the interCircle, today? interactadvocates.org/interCircle

Legal expert maps out how gender-affirming care bans may be challenged post-Skrmetti Ruling leaves door open to state constitution claims

Gender-affirming care bans with "intersex exceptions" can still be fought, even after the Supreme Court decision. A law professor explains how courts could overturn these bans using the intersex exceptions as evidence of bias and sex-stereotyping.

www.washingtonblade.com/2025/06/25/l...

Busting 5 Myths About Genital Surgery and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Nurse, author, and mom Stephani Lohman shares her family's experiences with genital surgery and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is commonly associated with intersex genital differences, and sometimes leads to genital surgeries on infants and young children. But are those surgeries even necessary? A mom and nurse busts common misconceptions.

interactadvocates.org/genital-surg...

Our bodies don't need your approval. Artist depictions of people of all races and body types playing sports, including soccer, volleyball, high jump, basketball, and tennis. The logo for NWLC is at the bottom — National Women's Law Center.

Title IX turns 53 today! This law was meant to protect ALL students. Trump’s attacks on intersex, trans, and queer students twists Title IX into something it was never meant to be. We’re committed to fighting for schools where all students are safe, supported, and seen. #ProtectTitleIX @nwlc.org

Experts: executive orders redefining biological sex attempt to erase intersex people One of President Trump’s first executive order declared the federal government will recognize only two sexes - male and female. Experts say it ignores the existence of intersex people.

The Trump administration routinely and wrongly calls gender-affirming care “chemical/surgical mutilation.”

“You want to talk about genital mutilation? You want to talk about what they've done to intersex children historically?” Dr. Wong said.

@kbianews.bsky.social www.kbia.org/health-wealt...

Messing with estradiol does more than mess with the dolls.

All women eventually rely on store bought. Cis women get menopause, after all.

Hormones are health care