InterAction for Health and Human Rights
LightNews LightNews
banner
interaction.org.au
InterAction for Health and Human Rights
@interaction.org.au
900 followers 59 following 120 posts
We’re a charity promoting the health and human rights of people with innate variations of sex characteristics (intersex variations/differences of sex development) and our families

main: https://interaction.org.au
support: ilink.net.au and isupport.org.au
Posts Replies Media Videos
interaction.org.au
It’s been a vibrant and inspiring time of celebration around Intersex Awareness Day 2025.

We hope your Intersex Awareness Day celebrations were meaningful and special.

Read all about how we celebrated here: interaction.org.au/44373/celebr...
Text: Intersex Awareness Day 2025 Wrap Up Image of a pink and grey galah wearing a purple sparkly top and a yellow sparkly skirt perched on red audience chairs. Black and gold sparkly background and logo for InterAction for Health and Human Rights shown.
October 27, 2025 at 10:41 PM
interaction.org.au
At InterAction's Intersex Awareness Day Online Gala on Sunday 26th Oct, the winners of The Darling were announced- Dr Thomas Drake-Brockman and Dr Jasmine Davis. We value their courage, compassion, integrity & commitment to excellence in medical leadership & allyship. Congrats on The Darling 2025!
Text: Congratulations to winners of The Darling 2025 Photo of The Darling- a pewter cube shaped award with The Darling 2025 engraved into side. Photo of Dr Thomas Drake-Brockman and Dr Jasmine Davis. Dr Drake-Brockman is a young, pale skinned person with a big smile and hair pulled back. They are wearing a white shirt and dark trousers and a blue lanyard. Dr Davis is a young, pale skinned woman with long straight brown hair. She is smiling and wears glasses. She is wearing a black top and blazer and cream trousers. She is also wearing a blue lanyard.
October 27, 2025 at 8:16 PM
interaction.org.au
Today is Intersex Awareness Day- a day to honour truth, visibility, and pride. Intersex people are born with sex characteristics that don’t fit typical definitions of male or female. These innate variations of sex characteristics are natural, diverse, and part of the human spectrum.
On a purple background, the yellow and purple intersex flag is shown. There are two yellow strips with the words “Raising intersex awareness 2025” repeated. Photo of a pale skinned woman in her 30s with long curly brown hair. She is smiling broadly and wearing a terracotta coloured jumper. Logo for InterAction for Health and Human Rights shown. Text reads: “Born this way. Proud every day. Intersex Pride begins with truth.”
October 26, 2025 at 10:49 AM
interaction.org.au
To our intersex community, allies, family and friends, we wish you all a happy and healthy Intersex Awareness Day 2025!
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Intersex Awareness Day! 2025 Image of heart filled with Australian native flora.
October 25, 2025 at 8:44 PM
interaction.org.au
The 2025 IPSA Retreat is set for 14-16 November 2025 in Pennyroyal, regional Victoria.
Registrations are now OPEN 💜💛

Click here- forms.gle/ZGHJLvMiY6Di... to register & book your tickets to attend. Remember to join IPSA for a discount!

Registrations close 11th October.
On a background collage of images of Victorian nature and countryside, the following text appears: InterSpace: A soft place to land More than a retreat, InterSpace is a collective exhale. Come rest, heal, reconnect, and rise with community. InterSpace invites you to expand. To be seen, celebrated, and supported- just as you are. In a world full of noise, come find your InterSpace! Retreat 14- 16 November 2025 Pennyroyal, Victoria IPSA Intersex Peer Support Australia
October 2, 2025 at 2:57 AM
interaction.org.au
To nominate an ally organisation, institution or individual, visit forms.gle/7FvPeAnzFwuo...

Nominations close 5pm Sunday 12th October 2025. Winner will be decided by a judging panel. Winner announced on Intersex Awareness Day.
Nominations for the 2025 Darling Award are now open. Each year on Intersex Awareness Day, we award "the Darling" in recognition of outstanding intersex allyship. The Darling will be presented to an organisation, institution or individual that demonstrates a commitment to action on intersex human rights beyond merely affirming the Darlington Statement. Who will you nominate to win in 2025? Nominations close 5pm Sunday 12th October. Winner announced IAD. Images shown of purple and yellow circle and InterAction for Health and Human Rights logo.
September 25, 2025 at 2:45 AM
interaction.org.au
Historic milestone: On 15 Sept, the UN Human Rights Council hosted first-ever panel on ending discrimination & harmful practices against intersex people.

Read all about it & explore the powerful statements: interaction.org.au/43979/watch-...
Watch the recording at webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1w...
United Nations logo in turquoise- flames within a wreath. Text reads United Nations Human Rights Council 60th Session Monday 15 September 2025, 10:00- 12:00 Panel Discussion Combating discrimination, violence and harmful practices against intersex persons There is a Live Stream logo at the bottom. Image of intersex flag with yellow background and a purple circle on it United Nations logo in turquoise- flames within a wreath. Text reads United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner Report: Discriminatory Laws and Policies, Acts of Violence and Harmful Practices against Intersex Persons Image of intersex flag- yellow background with a purple circle. Inside the circle is the globe with Australia positioned at front. Accompanying text reads: Were you watching as history happened? You can still watch- and here is how!
September 15, 2025 at 9:16 PM
interaction.org.au
Report detailing the lived experiences, challenges, and rights violations faced by intersex people worldwide will be presented at the UN on Monday 15th September 2025, commencing at 6pm AEST, 4pm AWST. The event will be live-streamed at webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1w...

Join us to watch history happen!
United Nations logo in turquoise- flames within a wreath. Text reads United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner Report: Discriminatory Laws and Policies, Acts of Violence and Harmful Practices against Intersex Persons Image of pale skinned hand holding a yellow circular disc with a purple circle on it, denoting the intersex flag. Accompanying text reads: Watch History Happen LIVE 6pm Monday 15th September
September 12, 2025 at 11:02 AM
interaction.org.au
Today- and every day, we’re reminded of the power of a simple question: Are you OK?

Visit InterLink to reach out for psychosocial support and peer navigation: ilink.net.au
Visit IPSA to reach out for peer support and good vibes: isupport.org.au

R U OK? You are seen, heard, and supported.
Yellow and black background with text: Ask R U OK? ANY DAY Learn what to say at ruok.org.au A conversation could change a life t is OK not to feel OK. Maybe you are feeling... disappointed about not being understood frustrated about discrimination in your workplace angry at the lack of understanding about what it means to be intersex sad and lonely because you are grappling with your variation Please remember- It is normal to feel disappointed, frustrated, angry or sad at times You are not alone- you are part of an understanding, caring community You can access psychosocial support through Interlink You can connect with community through IPSA But most of all, YOU are unique and worthy... just as you are.
September 11, 2025 at 2:21 AM
interaction.org.au
The ACT gov’t is to be commended for its transparency and public consultation on clinical plans to treat innate variations of sex characteristics

The first plan seeks to treat children with Turner syndrome with oestrogen before they can consent

Our submission:
interaction.org.au/resource/sub...
Two manicured and pale-skinned hands holding up a pink speech bubble containing the words “informed consent”
August 31, 2025 at 12:23 AM
interaction.org.au
On Wear It Purple Day, we celebrate the strength, diversity, & brilliance of intersex youth. Intersex Peer Support Australia (IPSA) offers peer-led social activities, where young people can be themselves, connected with community friends who truly understand. Visit IPSA at isupport.org.au.
On a purple background, a person with long dark hair and wearing purple is holding a megaphone. A white triangle expands out from the megaphone with the words "WEAR IT PURPLE DAY". The text on the purple background with whit stars reads "BOLD VOICES BRIGHT FUTURES 29.08.2025 www.wearitpurple.org On a purple background, a person with long dark hair and wearing purple is holding a megaphone. A white triangle expands out from the megaphone with the words "IPSA WELCOMES YOUNG PEOPLE. YOU ARE NOT ALONE". The text on the purple background with white stars includes the IPSA logo.
August 28, 2025 at 11:55 PM
interaction.org.au
On Wear It Purple Day, we celebrate the strength, diversity, & brilliance of intersex youth. InterLink creates safe, affirming spaces for young people to connect, share, and grow. Visit our amazing Resource Hub and check out our great resources for young people at ilink.net.au/resource-hub/.
On a purple background, a person with long dark hair and wearing purple is holding a megaphone. A white triangle expands out from the megaphone with the words "WEAR IT PURPLE DAY". The text on the purple background with whit stars reads "BOLD VOICES BRIGHT FUTURES 29.08.2025 www.wearitpurple.org On a purple background, a person with long dark hair and wearing purple is holding a megaphone. A white triangle expands out from the megaphone with the words "INTERLINK'S RESOURCE HUB HAS AMAZING RESOURCES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE". The text on the purple background with white stars includes the InterLink logo.
August 28, 2025 at 11:51 PM
interaction.org.au
On Wear It Purple Day, we celebrate the strength, diversity, & brilliance of intersex youth. InterAction is driving social and systemic change so all people with innate variations of sex characteristics are included, safe & empowered. Visit our new website at interaction.org.au to learn more.
On a purple background, a person with long dark hair and wearing purple is holding a megaphone. A white triangle expands out from the megaphone with the words "WEAR IT PURPLE DAY". The text on the purple background with whit stars reads "BOLD VOICES BRIGHT FUTURES 29.08.2025 www.wearitpurple.org On a purple background, a person with long dark hair and wearing purple is holding a megaphone. A white triangle expands out from the megaphone with the words "INTERACTION ADVOCATES FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS TO ENSURE BRIGHT FUTURES". The text on the purple background with white stars includes the InterAction logo.
August 28, 2025 at 11:49 PM
interaction.org.au
InterAction in Australia has a brand new website, making it much easier to find resources, personal stories and events

interaction.org.au
Screenshot of new site
August 27, 2025 at 6:15 AM
interaction.org.au
Intersex people are not defined by bullying, shame, or silence. We are defined by strength, creativity, joy, and pride.

Did you miss a day this week? Have access to the whole week in one place-
Visit interaction.org.au/42550/be-bol...
InterLink poster titled "Beeing Bees" shown with bee and hive images along with words of being: Healthy, Happy, Smart, Confident, Different, Yourself, Intersex. Photo of Michelle McGrath, co -chair of InterAction for Health and Human Rights and previous President of Intersex Peer Support Australia shown. She has short brown hair and is smiling. She is wearing a white tee with the intersex flag on it. She is holding a yellow and purple crochetted bee and is standing behind a large intersex flag. There is also a graphic of a yellow and purple bee. InterLink logo shown- name in yellow with the i's in purple with the dot of the i in interLink with two connecting circles. On a purple background, text reads "Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up. Bullying No Way Week 11th- 15th August 2025"
August 15, 2025 at 10:10 AM
interaction.org.au
For many people with IVSC, years of silence and medical secrecy can lead to internalised stigma.
Replace secrecy with visibility, isolation with connection, & self-doubt with pride.

Check out our Fact Sheet on Mental Health and Wellbeing –https://ilink.net.au/mental-health-and-wellbeing/
On an orange background, InterLink FactSheet shown titled "Mental health and wellbeing". InterLink logo shown- name in yellow with the i's in purple with the dot of the i in interLink with two connecting circles. Photo is of a darker skinned woman wearing yellow and pink. She has a mass of brown/blonde curls and is wearing large hoop earrings. She has her eyes closed and a blissful look on her face. On an orange background, InterLink poster shown titled "Self love is a very intersexy thing". Poster has decorative corners, rainbow and golden rays, a black haired cartoon woman with yellow eyes and pink cheeks. She has her hand on her heart and is surrounded by flowers and foliage. InterLink logo shown- name in yellow with the i's in purple with the dot of the i in interLink with two connecting circles. Photo is of a darker skinned woman wearing yellow and pink. She has a mass of brown/blonde curls and is wearing large hoop earrings. She has her eyes closed and a blissful look on her face. On a purple background, text reads "Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up. Bullying No Way Week 11th- 15th August 2025"
August 14, 2025 at 8:20 AM
interaction.org.au
🤔 hmm, maybe there are some BETTER WORDS for this?

Not only does it fail to explain innate variations of sex characteristics in a comprehensible way, the language here - particularly “cause unknown” - provokes a whole gamut of both end-of-the-world and far right end-of-civilisation conspiracies.
A screenshot of a story in Guardian Australia “‘Mind-blown’: scientists discover sex reversal in kookaburras and lorikeets with cause unknown”
August 14, 2025 at 12:24 AM
interaction.org.au
Medical bullying can look like being talked over, misgendered, pressured into procedures, or having your body treated as a curiosity.

Visit the Interlink resource hub for support in navigating medical spaces with confidence and dignity.
ilink.net.au/resource-hub/
On an orange background, InterLink FactSheet shown titled "Your rights at the doctor". InterLink logo shown- name in yellow with the i's in purple with the dot of the i in interLink with two connecting circles. Photo is of a doctor consulting with a patient. The doctor is wearing a white coat and a stethoscope. On an orange background, InterLink FactSheet shown titled "Bodily Autonomy and Informed Consent". InterLink logo shown- name in yellow with the i's in purple with the dot of the i in interLink with two connecting circles. Photo is of a doctor consulting with a patient. The doctor is wearing a white coat and a stethoscope. On an orange background, InterLink FactSheet shown titled "Talking with Your Doctor". InterLink logo shown- name in yellow with the i's in purple with the dot of the i in interLink with two connecting circles. Photo is of a doctor consulting with a patient. The doctor is wearing a white coat and a stethoscope. On a purple background, text reads "Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up. Bullying No Way Week 11th- 15th August 2025"
August 13, 2025 at 8:06 AM
interaction.org.au
InterAction warmly congratulates Alastair Lawrie on his selection as a Justice Fellow for 2025.
We are especially proud to support Alastair’s fellowship project, which will focus on strengthening legal protections for children born with variations of sex characteristics.
Logo for InterAction is shown- name of InterAction for Health and Human Rights with a purple circle. Logo for Law and Justice Foundation of New South Wales shown- their name with a line drawing of a set of justice scales. Text reads "InterAction for Health and Human Rights congratulates Alastair Lawrie Justice Fellow 2025. Photo is of Alastair Lawrie- middle aged, pale skinned man with short hair and dark facial hair. He is wearing a white shirt.
August 13, 2025 at 3:40 AM
interaction.org.au
Workplace bullying and discrimination against intersex people often go unnoticed, but it’s real. From invasive questions to exclusion from DEI initiatives, the impact is profound and persistent.

Check out our Fact Sheet on Talking About Intersex at School or Work – ilink.net.au/talking-abou...
On an orange background, InterLink FactSheet shown titled "Talking About Intersex at School or Work". InterLink logo shown- name in yellow with the i's in purple with the dot of the i in interLink with two connecting circles. Photo of four people sitting at a table with laptops open in an office environment. On a purple background, text reads "Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up. Bullying No Way Week 11th- 15th August 2025"
August 12, 2025 at 7:06 AM
interaction.org.au
Bullying at school can be devastating, especially for children and teens with IVSC who may already feel different or isolated.

In this Bullying No Way Week, explore tools and guidance on the Interlink Resource Hub to support intersex youth in schools-

ilink.net.au/resource-hub/
On a purple background, text reads "Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up. Bullying No Way Week 11th- 15th August 2025" On an orange background, InterLink FactSheet shown titled "Talking About Intersex with Friends". InterLink logo shown- name in yellow with the i's in purple with the dot of the i in interLink with two connecting circles. Photo is of two children and two young people looking at the camera. They are wearing school uniforms and have happy/ cheeky expressions. On an orange background, InterLink FactSheet shown titled "Talking About Intersex at School or Work". InterLink logo shown- name in yellow with the i's in purple with the dot of the i in interLink with two connecting circles. Photo is of two children and two young people looking at the camera. They are wearing school uniforms and have happy/ cheeky expressions.
August 11, 2025 at 7:56 AM
interaction.org.au
In light of the recent South Park episode depicting Donald Trump in bed with Satan, the creators chose to portray the president with a small penis. Whatever your views on Trump- the widespread acceptance of mocking someone’s genitals is a form of body shaming.

Links to read more in the comments.
Text reads: Body Shaming- It is not funny. It is not kind. It is not acceptable. Image is a screen capture from a recent South Park episode with President Donald Trump in bed with Satan. It is a cartoon image except for Donald’s head which is a photo that has been superimposed
August 6, 2025 at 7:45 AM
interaction.org.au
World Athletics has introduced a new policy mandating genetic testing for all women athletes competing at elite levels. This policy is discriminatory.

Read this article on The Conversation: theconversation.com/world-athlet....

Here's the link to our analysis too: interaction.org.au/42531/world-...
Text reads: World Athletics discriminates against female athletes with intersex variations. Image of World Athletics logo shown- a semicircular top with pink/orange/mauve colourings with lines reminiscent of tracks. The bottom of the shape is a jagged edge to provide a reverse image sense of a letter W. Below the image is “World Athletics” A red coloured “FAIL” stamp mark has been added. There is also a photo of three female athletes running on a track.
August 6, 2025 at 7:23 AM
interaction.org.au
At the recent 2025 World Association for Sexual Health Congress in Brisbane, historian, activist, and intersex advocate Mauro Cabral Grinspan coordinated and chaired an Intersex, Sexual Health and Human Rights Symposium.

Learn more at interaction.org.au/.../making-j...
Text reads: Symposium: Intersex, Sexual Health and Human Rights Images are set in a collage fashion on a bright blue background which matches the WAS 2025 Congress logo outer circle and gold/orange swirly lines matching the inner circle of the logo. The top left photo is of Dr Morgan Carpenter. Morgan is a middle aged white man wearing a brown jacket and collared shirt. He is standing at a podium giving a speech. The podium has the WAS Congress 2025 logo on it. The top right photo is of Mauro Cabral-Grinspan. Mauro is a middle aged balding man, wearing a black t shirt and black shirt. He is delivering a presentation at the podium and has his right arm raised to gesticulate. The bottom left photo is a slide of Dr Liane Gonsalves and her introductory slide “Perspectives on conducting “sex-normalising” intersex surgeries conducted in infancy: A systematic review”. The World Health Organisation logo is also featured. The bottom right photo is a slide from Mauro’s presentation at the symposium. It says "Pathologisation: the systemic practice of identifying certain traits as intrinsically “abnormal”, “disordered” or “pathological”, and placing those traits, and the very people who embody them under medical jurisdiction”.
August 6, 2025 at 6:28 AM
interaction.org.au
Intersex people have natural variations, not disorders. End stigma, discrimination & human rights violations. OHCHR Report will be presented to UN Human Rights Council in Sept & InterAction will be there, calling for depathologisation.

Learn more: intersexdepath.org/pathologizationandhumanrights
Image is of four operating theatre staff leaning over as if you are on the operating table. Strong theatre lights are also shining. The four people are wearing blue surgical scrubs and one is holding a scalpel. Text reads "It's time for Depthalogisation" Logo for InterAction for Health and Human Rights is shown- name and purple circle. Logo for United nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner is also shown- blue wreath and flames.
June 4, 2025 at 8:15 AM