Forming the Pioneers – Intersex Asia Brings the Voice of Intersex to Pride Philippines

Manila, Philippines – June 23, 2024 – In a historic move, Intersex Asia (IA) joined forces with our member organization, Intersex Philippines, to participate in Pride PH in Quezon City, Manila, Philippines, for the first time. This move marks an even more significant milestone in the fight for intersex human rights, with the participation of local intersex adults and parents of intersex children, the pioneer forces of intersex activism.

The decisions that define a lifetime

At Intersex Asia, we believe that a long-term impact on the intersex community can only be achieved by looking back and working from the beginning, at the moment an intersex child is born. At that moment, the role of parents is significantly critical as it has a long-lasting impact on the lives of their intersex children. The Pride PH on June 22nd was a powerful display of solidarity, with IA and Intersex Philippines leading the charge to raise awareness while parents proudly advocate for the rights of intersex children. The large presence of parents of intersex children in the “Love Laban 2 Everyone” Pride event was a particularly emotional moment as it represented the first time a group of parents of intersex children joined a Pride march in Southeast Asia together with intersex human rights defenders. 

“Intersex rights are human rights, and those rights should start from the moment intersex children are born, which are the rights to live, to access life-saving medication, to thrive, and to be loved. And the role of parents and doctors are critical in deciding the child’s future, ” said Hiker Chiu, Chair and Executive Director of Intersex Asia.

Ensuring access to life-saving medication

Intersex children, who are born with variations in sex characteristics, often face significant health challenges that require timely and appropriate medical intervention. In the Philippines, the incidence of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a condition that affects adrenal gland function, is approximately 1 in 20000 live births. Children with CAH require regular hormone therapy to survive and thrive. Without access to these medications (Hydrocortisone and Fludrocortisone), children with CAH can suffer from severe health crises, including adrenal insufficiency and life-threatening salt-wasting crises. In many parts of the Philippines, these medicines are either unavailable or unaffordable, leaving children at risk. Addressing the availability of essential medication for intersex children in the Philippines is the most pressing concern. 

Aware of this urgency, on 23rd June, Intersex Asia and Intersex Philippines organized an in-depth consultation meeting to understand better the challenges faced by intersex children and their families, and to chart a path forward for improved support resources and access to life-saving medicines The consultation brought together medical professionals, parents of intersex children and intersex advocates to address the pressing issues of availability and affordable access to life-saving medicines, diagnostic tools, awareness, education and advocacy, and the protection of intersex human rights. This is also Intersex Asia’s newest initiative to connect and develop a network of supporting doctors and parents in order to address these challenges and foster affirming care protecting the bodily autonomy, dignity and integrity of these children. 

“Access to life-saving medicines and adequate healthcare resources is a critical issue for intersex children in the Philippines,” Jeff Cagandahan, Co-Chair of Intersex Philippines emphasized. “We must ensure that all children, regardless of their sex characteristics, have access to the necessary medicines and healthcare services to survive and thrive.“

“This is a major milestone in the fight for intersex human rights,” Jeff continued, “By joining forces with doctors and parents, we are amplifying the voices of intersex individuals and families, and working towards a future where every intersex child in the Philippines can live with dignity and access the medical care they need.“

Intersex Asia’s participation in the Pride Philippines 2024 marks a significant step in building partnerships and ensuring that the unique needs and experiences of intersex individuals are recognized and addressed across Asia and beyond. Looking ahead, we remain committed to working toward an equal and just world for all intersex individuals globally.

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Read more of our documents:

Asian Intersex Statement

UN Intersex Factsheet