Bill > HRes1552

This Resolution expresses support for recognizing October 26, 2024, as Intersex Awareness Day, an observance that began in 1996 to honor the first public demonstration by intersex people in the United States. Intersex refers to individuals born with innate variations in their physical sex characteristics, such as external anatomy, reproductive organs, hormonal function, or chromosomal patterns, affecting an estimated 1.7% of the population. The Resolution highlights concerns about stigmatization, discrimination, and the practice of performing irreversible surgeries on intersex infants and children without their informed consent, which can lead to severe physical and psychological harm, as acknowledged by former Surgeons General, the Department of State, and various professional medical and legal organizations like the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the American Bar Association. It emphasizes that such surgeries are rarely medically necessary in infancy and that decisions should be postponed until the individual can provide informed consent, respecting their bodily autonomy and human rights. The Resolution also references U.S. government policies and actions, including a Presidential Memorandum on advancing LGBTQI+ human rights, the establishment of a White House Roundtable on intersex issues, executive orders aimed at combating discrimination, and recent federal rules clarifying protections against discrimination based on sex characteristics. Furthermore, it notes international support, such as a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution, and legislative efforts like the Equality Act. Ultimately, the Resolution encourages federal, state, and local entities, as well as organizations and healthcare providers, to observe Intersex Awareness Day with programs and activities to increase public knowledge, empower the intersex community, promote culturally competent care, and prioritize the health and human rights of intersex people.