Susan's Place Transgender Resources

News and Events => People news => Topic started by: Felix on January 29, 2012, 01:42:48 AM

Title: "I'm proud to be a hermaphrodite"
Post by: Felix on January 29, 2012, 01:42:48 AM
body+soul
Liz Graham
http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/soul+happiness/wellbeing/im+proud+to+be+a+hermaphrodite,16555 (http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/soul+happiness/wellbeing/im+proud+to+be+a+hermaphrodite,16555)

"I have a condition called androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS). I look like a woman but I have male chromosomes.

Basically, I started off in my mum's uterus as a boy, but my body didn't respond to testosterone. The code was there to be a boy but it didn't hold, so I developed along female lines. I have female genitalia but no uterus and I was born with internal testes.

"AIS is one of many intersex conditions. It's called that because there's a crossover between male and female chromosomes or sexual organs. AIS is genetic and one of the more common ones, but it still only affects one in every 25,000 people.

"I also use the term hermaphrodite to describe myself – it's a provocative word and can be offensive, but I think it can be reclaimed in an empowering way.
Title: Re: "I'm proud to be a hermaphrodite"
Post by: Cindy on January 29, 2012, 01:52:22 AM
It was in the Sunday Advertiser in Adelaide. Nice article. I think I'll get some questions at work tomorrow. Funny last week the magazine section focussed on same sex marriage. One of our MPs is openly gay and wants to marry his boyfriend and is bringing  legislation in. This week the magazine featured two letters from people who said in the ilk of  'call me homophobic but do we need to see photos of two men holding hands?'

Oh well

I think some people would prefer to see them killing each other.

Cindy
Title: Re: "I'm proud to be a hermaphrodite"
Post by: Felix on January 29, 2012, 02:18:09 AM
QuoteThis week the magazine featured two letters from people who said in the ilk of  'call me homophobic but do we need to see photos of two men holding hands?'

Oh well

I think some people would prefer to see them killing each other.

Comment sections often scare the bejeezus out of me. :icon_blink:

And I'm sure you weren't referencing it specifically, but the desire of some to see lesser classes killing one another reminds me of the local sentiment toward the denizens of black and hispanic ghettos.
Title: Re: "I'm proud to be a hermaphrodite"
Post by: Jamie D on January 29, 2012, 03:13:42 AM
Liz Graham has complete androgen insensitivity syndrome and is a phenotypical female with a 46 XY karyotype.

AIS also presents in incomplete forms, sometimes termed Partial AIS and Mild AIS.