interACT / Advocates for Informed Choice

Media & awareness interacts media & awareness- raising work promotes sensitive, accurate, own-voices coverage of intersex issues in journalism and entertainment media. Interacts work was featured in over 300 pieces of media coverage in 2021, including the advocate, the 19th news, scary mommy, and the american independent. Interact increased its followers to 38,312 on social media. Staff and youth Advocates did 54 talks, panels and presentations, including participating in a starbucks pride panel discussion and an intersex inclusion in the workplace training for microsoft. Additionally, Interact partnered with the writers guild of america west to present a groundbreaking panel promoting authentic intersex representation in tv and film. 17 intersex leaders were invited to the first-ever white house intersex awareness day listening session. Interact staff presented to ny assembly womens caucus. Additional details can be found at: httpsinteractadvocatesorgaboutusa...

Interact youth Interact youth is our intersex youth advocacy collective, empowering young intersex Advocates with connection, leadership skills, and a platform to raise their voices. Youth voices are at the heart and soul of our mission to honor intersex bodily integrity and autonomy in decision-making. In 2021, Interact worked with 49 youth Advocates, and ispace, our online space for youth connection, grew to 131 members.

Law and policy launched californias sb 225, and testified at rhode island senate hearing on sb 593, to stop unneccesary surgeries on intersex children. Hosted community listening session to gather feedback on legislative efforts and other policy strategies. Passed new york city council bill int. 1748 to create a new public awareness campaign to inform parents and doctors about intersex variations and the risks of unnecessary medical intervention in infancy. Released legislative toolkit in collaboration with harvard law schools lgbtq+ advocacy clinic. Gave congressional lgbtq+ equality caucus briefing. Testified at the department of educations virtual title ix hearing and submitted written comments. Department of education and department of justice released resources specifically including intersex students in title ix anti-discrimination efforts, and updated title ix legal manual to reflect coverage of intersex students. Submitted written testimony to house ways & means committee to highlight needs of intersex youth in foster care. Participated on panel with equality nc to discuss how anti-trans sports bills impact the intersex community, and filed amicus brief in soule v. Connecticut association of schools with assistance from patterson, belknap, webb & tyler. Worked with human rights campaign to include a question on the healthcare equality index regarding participating hospitals policies to protect intersex childrens bodily autonomy.