Organization for Intersex International
O I I

Within the current framework of our society, from which no individual can escape, FINE joins with OII in its analysis concerning the application of queer theory from an Intersex perspective.

FINE also wishes to add its own analysis, which complements that of OII by affirming its own futuristic perspective which agrees with queer theory:
"When the obscurantist and anti-nature myth concerning an absolute bipolarity between the sexes is eradicated, the true equality between men and women will be re-established.  There will no longer be men and women but simply human beings. 
Our very existence (the intersexed), once revealed to the public at large and taught in the schools, will destabilize current preconceptions and the very foundation of our society, such as marriage between people who are more or less different sexes; the differences between men and women, homosexuality, bisexuality and heterosexuality will no longer have any great meaning.
In the end, we would hope that the sex of a person will no longer be officially recorded any more than the race of a newborn.
Then humanity could escape from its barbarous masculine grip; there would only be human beings with equal rights.  We could have a gently and more peaceful civilization free from sexist patriarchal obscurantism.”
On the occasion of Judith Butler day, May 26, 2005,  in Paris, this perspective was approved by Marie Hélène Boursier who is the leading French specialist on queer theory.
RIFE refuses all arbitrarily imposed classifications of sex, gender and orientation.

The intersexed are part of the GLBTiH community.  (Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, intersex, heterosexual communities).  In other words the whole human family.

FINE is in favor of the positive evolution which is beginning to take place within some GLBT circles which are breaking with exclusive identity politics in order to put more emphasis on the richness of the diversity which makes up humanity.

I.  The treatment of intersex (hermaphrodites) is a very striking symbol of what measures society has taken to maintain a heteronormative hegemony (compulsory heterosexuality)  within our societies. 

A. The very taxonomy concerning hermaphrodites which divides us into true and pseudo-hermaphrodites reflects the desperate attempt to erase our existence. 

B. By choosing only the gonads as the one sign of a person's true sex, most all people previously known as hermaphrodites were suddenly pseudo-hermaphrodites, thereby safeguarding the binary construct of sex. 

C. The current treatment of mutilating bodies so as to make those bodies "fit" for heterosexual intercourse further perpetuates this heterosexist agenda. 

II. The most challenging problem that intersex people face is the arbitrary division of sex and gender into two categories. 

A. There are not just two preexisting categories of sex.  People often accept that gender is socially constructed but the study of intersex reveals that sex is socially constructed as well.  More and more parts of the body are being "sexed" -- many different genes, the brain, even finger patterns. 

B. The problem is that each time we come up with a difference, we consistently name it within an arbitrary binary system as male/female, even though we can readily see that there are many instances in between and a myriad of combinations of all the different "parts" are possible. 

C.  As modern science discovers more and more parts of the body which it names as male or female, we will begin to see even more clearly how absurd it is to assume that people are either male or female. 

III.  Why do we need to divide people into these two categories at all? 

A. Even if it were absolutely necessary to divide people into just two sex categories, who should have the right to determine which category an intersex person belongs in?  Does it not make more sense to ask the intersex person? 

B.  For that matter, does it not make sense to ask not just the intersex person but all people?

IV.  Intersexuality is not just an intersex issue.  It is a human rights issue and it affects all of us because we are all mutilated in such a system, not just those of us born with bodies that professionals see as atypical sex. 

V.  Should we define intersex as only those with atypical sex? 

A. In so doing we are simply creating another "fixed" identity to be determined by the professionals already controlling the heteronormative hegemony which is prevalent. 

B.  Intersex should be another option as a way to be and one that anyone could be.  Just as we really don't have a clearly 'fixed" definition of what a man is or what a woman is, how can we ever expect to define once and for all what intersex is. 

C.  Many people in the intersex community demand that we be allowed to identify as men or women without regard to our genitalia.  If  this is our right, then why shouldn't others have the same right, including the right to identify as intersex? 

VI. OII is opposed to classifying intersex as a pathological condition.  We are not sick because we are intersex. 

A.  To define intersex as only a medical category is self-defeating for intersex because it implies it needs to be cured.  Why does it need to be cured?  Intersex is just one of the many options of deconstructing the current binary system which is oppressing us all. We welcome all those who identify as intersex to join us and people who do not identify as such to join us in our struggle for full human rights. 

VII.  What is important is that we be "people" and relate to others as people and welcome the diversity which an integral part of the natural world.