Setting record straight on intersex

   Little unknown fact: one in every 1,500 babies a year are born and identified as neither male or female. With no definite gender defining body parts, they aren’t physically male or female.

   Intersexuality is a DSD (disorder of sex development), which means those affected cannot be biologically defined based on genitalia. Their chromosomes and body parts do not identify with either gender.

   While intersex is usually recognized as a deformation of genitalia, it can be an imbalance of hormones. Females can produce excess estrogen while males have the same problem with testosterone.

   Being intersex is similar to transgender situations, but intersex is based on chromosomal irregularities. A transgender person can be born as a girl, but have the mentality of a male, and vice versa.

    The conditions of being intersex may be seen as physical, but in some cases hormonal. Some males produce excess estrogen which gives them the lady like qualities, and vice versa.

Germany is now the first country in Europe to identify a third option on the birth certificate: neither. Children born intersex (male and female) without gender defining genitalia will be allowed to be registered as neither.

    The new law states, “If a child cannot be designated male or female, then they should be entered on the birth register without such a status.”

    Before, doctors had to make a decision to mark the child as male or female. Surgery to alter the genitalia usually follows, giving the intersex child male or female parts.

    Many victims of gender surgeries have come away from these procedures displeased. They tell horror stories of how they were sterilized at birth, and given estrogen or testosterone pills. They were raised by their parents based on the assumption doctors made on their gender. It isn’t until puberty that their chromosomes play through and define their true gender. Many have not taken the transition well and are put into therapy to help with coping.

   A common symptom is depression. Several individuals have committed suicide, including Bruce “Brenda” Reimer, who was raised as a girl. After realizing he was a boy, he underwent severe depression and killed himself at the age of 38.

    “I don’t think North Harford has ever had an intersex student, and if so none of us (guidance) know about it,” said guidance counselor Jeann Heinze.

   Being half man and woman is unheard of and uncommon, but they live among the rest of the population carrying on with their lives. Who knows, the cashier at the store could be intersex, maybe even a Congress member?