Welcome! About us…
We are a national charity by and for people with innate variations of sex characteristics. We promote health, human rights and bodily autonomy. Find out more about us and the population we work for.
Our reports and briefings
Our policy reports and briefings. Key topic reports are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain current.
Intersex for allies
How can you act as an ally to intersex people? This page contains introductory information and video resources.
Bodily integrity
We all have a right to bodily integrity, to not be subjected to invasive or irreversible medical procedures that modify sex characteristics, unless necessary to avoid serious, urgent and irreparable harm.
Intersex people and the Australian census
The 2016 and 2021 censuses sought to capture data on people with innate variations of sex characteristics (intersex variations/differences of sex development), but they did so in ways that were harmful and that did not produce reliable, meaningful data. We have an opportunity to do better in the 2026 census.
Clinical opposition to early intersex medical interventions
Clinicians are increasingly raising their voices in opposition to forced and coercive interventions, including Physicians for Human Rights and the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association. More action is needed – particularly in Australia.
The context and goals of the intersex movement in Australia
Social Sciences journal has published a peer-reviewed perspective on the context and goals of the intersex movement in Australia, by Dr Morgan Carpenter.
Intersex people and COVID-19
All populations that suffer health inequalities are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and people with intersex variations are no exception.
Darlington Statement
The Darlington Statement is a joint consensus statement by Australian and Aotearoa/New Zealand intersex organisations and independent advocates, agreed in March 2017. It sets out the priorities and calls to action by the intersex human rights movement in our countries.
Demographics
The intersex population is far more diverse than commonly understood. This page presents details based on a 2015 independent Australian sociological survey.
Detention settings
A briefing on issues affecting people with innate variations of sex characteristics in detention settings.
Discrimination
A briefing on discrimination issues affecting people with innate variations of sex characteristics due to our bodies, identities, or assumptions about our identities.
Domestic and family violence
A briefing paper on domestic and family violence and intersex people.
Education
A briefing on issues affecting people with innate variations of sex characteristics in education settings.
An intersex flag
We have struggled with symbols used to denote intersex people, so Morgan created one that is free for the world to use.
Forms and data collection
Guidance on including people born with variations of sex characteristics in forms and other forms of data collection.
Genomics and genetic selection
Many intersex traits are genetic, with an identified origin. The elimination of such traits from the gene pool is an established and growing phenomenon.
Clinical guidelines
Are clinical guidelines enough to eliminate human rights violations against people with innate variations of sex characteristics in medical settings? Reviewing the evidence, we believe they are inadequate, and their prerequisites do not exist.
Health and wellbeing
An introduction to the health and well-being of people with innate variations of sex characteristics, with links to third party resources published by the Australian Human Rights Commission and clinical bodies.
Healthcare pathways
These health and wellbeing resources work together to visually map established healthcare needs, highlight potential gaps in services, and evaluate against best practice indicators.
Identification documents
A briefing and guidance on understanding and respecting the diverse sex classifications and gender identities of people with intersex variations.
Inclusive practice
Guides to inclusive practice, to help make your service, program or project intersex-friendly.
Intersex people and intersectionality
The rights and concerns of intersex people overlap and intersect with the rights and concerns of women, LGBT people, and disabled and racialised peoples.
Intersex: intersectionalities with disabled people
The lived experience of intersex people, and the intersex movement, have many intersectionalities with experiences of disability and the disability movement.
Intersex: intersectionalities with lesbian and gay people
IHRA’s Morgan Carpenter wrote and presented this paper at the After ‘Homosexual’ conference in Melbourne in February 2012. The focus is on intersectionalities with same-sex attracted people.
Intersex: intersectionalities with gender diverse people
This page details some of the general differences and similarities between the experiences of transgender and gender diverse people, and people with intersex variations.
Media and style guide
If you are writing about intersex people, our bodies, identities and human rights concerns, this page outlines why we use words the way we do.
Intersex for parents
This page is for new parents of an intersex child, prospective parents planning a pregnancy or undergoing genetic or preconception screening, and also parents of older children.
Population figures
How many people have innate variations of sex characteristics (IVSCs), also known as intersex variations or differences of sex development?
Position statement on genital cutting
Intersex refers to atypical internal and/or external anatomical sexual characteristics, where features usually regarded as male or female may be mixed to some degree. This is a naturally occurring variation in humans.
Researching intersex populations
Guidance on including people with innate variations of sex characteristics in research studies and surveys.
“Sex and Gender Diverse” discussion paper on terminology
This paper was updated in September 2013, with a new final “impact” section that reflects the discontinuation of “SGD” and “DSG” terminology by the National LGBTI Health Alliance and many other organisations. We recommend browsing the Videos, Audio and Personal Stories sections of this website to gain familiarity with the diversity of intersex identities, genders,…
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Sport
A briefing on issues affecting people with innate variations of sex characteristics in sport settings.
Our Theory of Change
We present our Theory of Change. The diagram is intended to set out why and how we do what we do, and with what goals and outcomes. Now finalised after a period of pubic consultation, comments and feedback remain welcome.
Timeline of legal, community and other key events
A timeline of legal, community and other key reforms in Australian jurisdictions. This page highlights good practice and documents the history of them and other developments.
UN Treaty Body statements on intersex human rights in Australia
Multiple UN Treaty Body committees have issued concluding observations to Australia on the rights of children with intersex variations.
Who are intersex people?
A briefing on our population, including working, Australian and international definitions.
Workplaces
Guidance for employers, union representatives and staff on intersex issues and inclusion in the workplace.
Youth
Finding out you have an intersex variation can be a surprise! It doesn’t mean you’re alone. There are heaps of us out here with different intersex variations.