Issue 1

YOUth&I gives us a younger generation of storytellers. It provides a space for young intersex people to share their stories in their own words and not be taken out of context or rewritten by endosex (non-intersex) people. A space for intersex voices to be heard in their own right. A chance to educate the people we live with and to connect with others including those who, even if they don’t know the word intersex, might pick up this book and recognise some of these stories and experiences within themselves.
Steph Lum, YOUth&I Issue 1 foreword

Foreword

Steph Lum

It feels incredible to be able to say—here is YOUth&I, a collection of literary and artistic works from some amazingly talented young intersex people!

Enter I*

Gabriel Filpi

Enter I* Into my life. I, Imagine, I—Myself—Me. In a world where I can be, I* and I don't have to try, To fit in places where I do not.

If I’m at all like a flower

Mari Wrobi

My body is intersex. And no, that does not mean that my body is broken, abnormal or diseased. Still the context of my body has been defined and rewritten in and out of existence so many times that I don't know what it is or where I stand.

Beyond pink and blue

Georgia Andrews

Pregnancy tests. Ultrasounds. Gender reveal parties. Maternity shopping. Childbirth. On the day we take our first breath, a clinician typically lifts us in the air, does a speedy examination, and pronounces our sex.

(In)tersex

ITSH

I am caught in between, or rather, I exist there comfortably. Wedged in, or rather, nestled, right where I was born. Some don't see me as whole. Others see me as a hole—in their ideology.

Fractured decisions

ITSH

I twirl my hair like I'm making candy. I pull it out like I'm made of metaphors. I'm biting your tongue. You're biding my time. Years of miscommunication, disparate conversation. I down another disappointment and build another boundary for greedy hands to push and for me to cower behind.

Here I am

Elise Nyhuis

I grew up amongst those who spoke in the voices of angels, yet my body was a fantasy. A conjuring of nature, an abrupt reminder of the dissonance of thought which dominates the chosen.

How can homophobia and transphobia affect intersex people?

Mar Is

Although I have never identified with any of the letters in the LGBT acronym, I feel deep empathy and love for this community. I understand the problems and discrimination they face, since every day I face those same problems and discrimination.

Out of the shadows

Mim Hall

I knew as a kid I was different and I had this perception it wasn’t in a good way. When I was 12, I found out the name of what made me different. My parents told me I had 17 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency. What the fuck is that?

Canvas

Cody Smith

I am canvas cut in the shape of a woman. What rainbow of truths I see people paint upon theirs. Those colours, shapes, and techniques upon mine Will always be upon canvas Cut in the shape of a woman.

Intersexy

ITSH

My body can’t be defined by your binary. My body says why the hell do you expect billions of people to fit into two categories? My body says I do not “have the best of both worlds.” I have the best of myself.

Carla

Steph Lum

In 2016, in the family court case Re: Carla (Medical procedure) [2016] FamCA 7, a judge in Queensland, Australia allowed for the sterilisation of a 5-year-old girl, Carla (not her real name), based on gender stereotypes and erroneous medical information.

Interevolution

Nowakii

This drawing represents how in the past and in other cultures intersex people were seen as Gods or Demigods or as beings that somehow came to teach the world of something.

Loving an intersex person

Diana Rentería

Kaleb has been my partner for more than six years and is a person who was born with an intersex body. Since we met, she has always been honest with me. She told me that her body didn't fit within the social idea of a typical woman.

Take a breath

Banti Jaswal

It was the day of my talk and my body was calm. I had three hours before my talk and the nerves had not sunk in yet. This was a pretty common occurrence; the last time I talked about being intersex was on a panel at an intersex conference.

7 tips for parents of intersex children

Laura Inter

I am writing this to provide some basic advice for parents of intersex children. But first, I would like to tell you a little about myself. I was born in Mexico City more than 30 years ago.

I wish

Irene Kuzemko

Pro frugal tip: save money on therapy by becoming a famous intersex activist! Recently I wanted to tell my intersex story to my therapist. Instead of paying for an entire session dedicated to telling my story, I just sent him links to my interviews, and that was it!

You and I

MeerderWörter

What is privilege? Privilege is when a certain aspect of your life will make sure you are not discriminated against—in this specific case, I want to show you how intersex people, my people, I, have been and are institutionally discriminated against.

CAH and I: a prisoner of puberty and early menopause

Frida

Hi! My name is Frida. I am a girl from Oaxaca, Mexico, but I am not a typical girl. I am different; I have something that makes me special, something that has made me happy: I have Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia or CAH.

My Intersex story

Banti Jaswal

I was adopted at the age of 2 from India and met my two mums and moved to America. I was raised female and always knew I was intersex.

Orchids

Laura Inter

I know that the orchid can have other meanings for different intersex people. I personally see the orchid as a symbol of intersex because it’s a flower that can have many forms.