Advocating for intersex awareness
Intersex Awareness Day signifies the struggles, victories and love that the intersex community experiences. One of our 30 Under 30 Award Winners, Mimi Hall, knows all about this as she uses her experience to spark a life of advocacy, peer support, and media, and encourage legislative reform. In their young life, she has contributed so much to Australia and the intersex community.
What is Intersex?
Intersex is an umbrella term used when a person is born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t fit the traditional boxes of ‘male’ and ‘female’. While there is debate as to how many Australians fall under this umbrella, a 2019 study by Intersex Human Rights Australia estimates it to be 1.7% of the population. There are possible causes of someone being born intersex, but many may face the same intrusive procedures long before they know who they are.
Medical intervention on intersex babies has been common since the 1950s and 1960s, and this is becoming a thing of the past due to the medical and psychological trauma it has caused. In 1985, Intersex Peer Support Australia was founded to support and advocate for the intersex community. Years later, Intersex Awareness Day came into existence on the 26th of October 1996 in Massachusetts, USA, when activists protested at the annual American Academy of Paediatrics because of the way they were treating intersex babies and children. Even 27 years later, we are still on that journey for understanding and acceptance.
Mimi Hall’s advocacy
Over the years, activists have fought for respect and autonomy, including Mimi Hall. Mimi has shared her story with media outlets, where she has educated the general public and sought legal reforms, particularly regarding the ACT’S Variation in Sex Characteristic (Restricted Medical Treatment) Act 2023. This act is the first within Australia to protect the rights and choices of intersex individuals. By prohibiting unnecessary medical treatment on intersex children until they can give informed consent, it gives individuals a chance to make their own decisions. Many people were involved in the passing of this act, and Mimi continues to shine the light on this important cause.
Mimi is also the Intersex Project Coordinator in A Gender Agenda: an ACT-based organisation that supports the goals and needs of the local intersex, transgender and gender diverse communities. They share their experience while offering support to those with a similar background.
Mimi’s openness and dedication to those around them proves why she was named Out For Australia’s Community Award Winner for 2023.
Check out these resources:
A Gender Agenda | Trans, Intersex & Gender Diverse services ACT (genderrights.org.au)
Intersex population figures – Intersex Human Rights Australia (ihra.org.au)