Intersex Remembrance Day 2021

Jinsiangu Intersex parents and community members holding a candle vigil for the bravery of those who are visible everyday and those who came before in the fight for rights within the country

Intersex Day of Remembrance, also known as Intersex Solidarity Day, is observed on November 8th each year. November 8th is the birthday of Herculine Barbin, a French intersex person who was assigned female at birth and raised in a convent, but was later reclassified as male by a court of law, after an affair and physical examination.

While Intersex Awareness Day focuses on creation of awareness and visibility of intersex people in the society, Intersex Day of remembrance also known as Intersex Solidarity Day calls upon the society and people to stand with intersex people and to work together towards uplifting the lives of intersex people. It is observed to bring focus on the issues faced by intersex people and the need for reflection and political action.

In Kenya the struggle for recognition and accommodative policies over the years has been paved by pain, tears and death of many intersex children, parents, siblings and intersex activists.

Among the major calls to action, Intersex genital mutilation is a top the list of items being called to abolition as well as premature killing of intersex children. Activists have called out over the years for the Kenyan government to intervene as the living conditions for intersex persons within the country has been dire. From healthcare and institutional reforms to national interventions that address barriers from lack of general awareness about intersex issues by state officials are some of the key areas of intervention that the government and intersex groups are primarily working towards that deserve recognition with Intersex day of Solidarity.

There are significant advances towards uplifting the plight of intersex people in Kenya that deserve further understanding & recognition, such as the implementation of recommendations from the taskforce report on intersex persons in Kenya. Many other activities around the country have been undertaken as part of the recommendations and efforts to change the landscape for intersex persons in Kenya. Follow Jinsangu on facebook to learn more