Boost these important infos.

Image Description:

Big purple words above a chart that say, “Tips For Intersex Inclusive Language” and smaller words beneath that say, “Everyone is different! Here are tips on how to talk about diverse sex characteristics respectfully.”

The chart beneath has three columns; one marked as “instead of” to show what you shouldn’t say, one marked as “say” to show what you should say, and one marked as “because” for an explanation. The chart’s contents read as such:

Instead of “biological sex” or “biological gender”, say “sex traits” because people are born with sex traits, including chromosomes genitals and reproductive organs. but these may not line up neatly into what most people think of as one ‘biological sex.’ Gender is social and cultural. Someone’s gender may not correspond to what often expect based on their bodily sex traits, although society commonly ties sex and gender together.

Instead of “born with ambiguous gender”, say “born with genitals outside the typical male / female binary” because genitals do not have a determined gender, and we can never tell for sure what someone’s gender will be when they’re born. It’s all up to the individual to figure out as they grow!

Instead of “born as a man / woman” say “born intersex” or “born with different sex traits” because with most people’s binary understanding of sex, this could imply a person was born with two sets of genitalia, which is not possible* . It also assumes being a man or a woman depends on sex traits at birth (and implies these are the only &vo options).

Instead of “female/male chromosomes”, say “XX/XY chromosomes” because call parts what they are without gendering them. Many people who are women have XX chromosomes. and many don’t. Some people with XX chromosomes don’t have a female gender identity. Intersex people can also have chromunme patterns that are not XX or XY.

Instead of “female/male” genitalia, say “vagina/penis” [if you really need to be talking about someone’s genitals anyways]

* it is totally possible to be born with a vagina & testicals, a penis with a uterus, etc. Two full sets of functioning genitals is not possible though (as far as we know).

Instead of born a boy/girl, say assigned male/female at birth. Babies are assigned a gender based on what their genitals look like.  Those assessments might not always be accurate once the baby grows up.

Instead of “both sexes/genders”, say “multiple sexes/genders”. There are more than two genders and many combinations of sex traits.

Instead of “what it’s like to be intersex”, say “my intersex experience”. Not two intersex experiences are alike! Avoid generalization as much as possible.

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The bottom left of the image says # 4 intersex in purple letters. There is also the logo for “InterAct: Advocates for Intersex Youth” at the bottom right in purple and green letters.

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