Comments on: Intersex player rising up WTA rankings

By: Elemental

Elemental — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:30:09 +0000

I have known many intersexed folks. And several transsexuals. The gay community can be bigoted against intersexed/transpeople. Just as society at large can be bigoted against gays and anyone who does not ‘fit’ into the stereotype of the ‘perfect’ person. I am glad that the tennis officials have allowed the woman to play tennis as a woman. The bigotry she has received is both sad and sickening.

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 20:26:41 +0000

There has been some wonderful explaining intersex conditions also know as disorders of sex development (DSD). These medical conditons are often linked with sexuality, but shoudn’t be. Society needs to become aware of what intersex is. It shouldn’t be sooo taboo when it’s a medical issue.

By: Elemental aka Alexander

Elemental aka Alexander — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 16:27:07 +0000

I am glad that the young woman is being allowed to play women’s tennis. She was born with a condition called true hermaphroditism. She is chromosomally normal female aka xx. She had a vagina and an enlarged clitoris. Her ovaries contained both testicular and ovarian tissue. She is happy living as a woman. The other poster mentioned that AIS aka androgen insensitivity syndrome is not discovered until the girl fails to menstruate. That only applies in certain cases. many girls with complete ais are discovered younger than their teens when testicles that failed to descend are mistaken for inginual hernias. Girls with partial AIS have enlarged clitorises and ambiguous genitalia. There are boys with AIS as well who have small to micropenises and sometimes hypospasias. In Swyer Syndrome a woman is genetically male but has a uterus. There are sometimes cases of men who are genetically female xx. Gender and sexuality are a rainbow of spectrums. All people of intersex and transgendered status should be respected. Shalom.

By: kristen

kristen — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:32:19 +0000

Also very good reference -

Express Buzz Magazine – Jan 23rd 2009, titled – Punishing Difference…

John Hopkin’s review…
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Punishing+difference&artid=kunBaJO7yWk=&SectionID=f4OberbKin4=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=cxWvYpmNp4fBHAeKn3LcnQ==&SEO=gender,%20sexualities,%20santhi%20soundararajan

By: kristen

kristen — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:28:47 +0000

Letter to IOC President Jacques Rogge – January 4th, 2009
http://www.kristenworley.ca/index.php/open-letter-jacques-rogge-international-olympic-committee-ioc-january-4th-2009

By: Cyd Zeigler jr.

Cyd Zeigler jr. — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:17:15 +0000

Thank you so much for clarifying, Leah!! Your insight is much appreciated on this Web site, and we hope you’ll keep us in check on these issues!!!

By: Leah Peters

Leah Peters — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:32:45 +0000

This story has been floating around for about a month. The negative comments of coaches are purely sour grapes. She has always identified as female and never went through any kind of male puberty, so her detractors don’t have a leg to stand on.

I just wanted to clarify something. Intersex people have some mixture of tissues, but they NEVER have a complete set of both genitalia. That is a myth. As a matter of fact there are dozens of intersex conditions and they range from obvious to invisible. Like women who have Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome outwardly appear 100% female. And they are usually not even diagnosed until the fail to menstruate as teens. The important message people should take away from this is that sex and gender (separate things) are MUCH, MUCH more complicated than people realize.