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Note: This letter was written by Francie Nevill in response to the January 17, 2003 article about intersexuality in Just Out newsmagazine. It was published in the next issue.
Dear Editor:
I am writing to thank you for your article about intersex. With five children each day in the U.S. having their healthy genitals cut on without their consent, raising awareness with articles like this is crucial. I hope readers who are new to this topic will take the information you presented to heart, support ISNA, and start talking about intersex with parents, friends, teachers, doctors, lovers and more.
I have one concern about your otherwise excellent piece. I feel the picture that headed the article (a naked intersex child held down and exposed) was dehumanizing to the child pictured, and frankly nauseating in its graphic violence.
I am not intersex, and I have not been abused in this way, but I literally could not read the story until I covered the picture. I can only imagine the effect that it might have had on survivors of procedures like these.
I know the picture was chosen with good intentions. I know you wanted to communicate the horrific violence perpetrated against intersex individuals by doctors. I completely support you in that intention, but I feel you would have achieved that goal without the picture.
You clearly communicated the devastating effects of these "standard medical procedure" of mutilation, medical display, shaming, and abuse with the words of intersex activists and IGM survivors. I hope you will continue talking about intersex, while responding to the concerns of the community about how that communication happens. Thank you for the article, and please keep up the good work!
Francie Nevill