Support your intersex child – Contents

Representatives of OII Europe and ILGA-Europe visit the Council of Europe.

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A guide for parents of intersex children. Compiled by IGLYO, OII Europe and EPA.

The first version of Support Your Intersex Child was written and published in 2018 by IGLYO, OII Europe, and EPA. Since then, this guide for parents of intersex children has been translated into Icelandic, French, Greek, Portuguese, Dutch and Turkish.

Chapters

Introduction

What is intersex? Is it a boy or a girl? This is the question that is asked all over the world when someone gives birth. Many parents will answer that question without much thought. But for a significant number, the answer will be more complicated.

Introduction

Advice for parents

Finding out that your child is intersex may come as a surprise to you. You may feel and think many things as a result of that news.

Advice for parents

Frequently asked questions

You are not the only one who has many questions. Numerous parents have told us what concerns them. Here you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Frequently asked questions

Medical interventions

The first question to ask yourself is: do i think my child needs medical interventions, and why do I think that?

Medical interventions

Talking to your child about being intersex

It’s important that your child does not feel different in a negative way or worry about being intersex. But not talking about it can also be a major problem.

Talking to your child about being intersex

Talking to others about your child being intersex

Secrecy is not a good thing. But if you tell everyone that your child is intersex, you deprive your child of the ability to decide later on who this information is shared with and who it is not. That boundary is called privacy. That’s what this chapter is about.

Talking to others about your child being intersex

Questions others may ask

Few things are as surprising as the questions other people may ask you. Sometimes you’ll want to give an answer, sometimes you won’t be able to give an answer (yet), and often you’ll think ‘What does it matter to you?’.

Questions others may ask

Talking to professionals about your intersex child

At various times in your child’s life, you will need to decide which professionals need to know that your child is intersex and how to address this with your child.

Talking to professionals about your child being intersex

About this publication

The first English-language version of Support Your Intersex Child was written and published in 2018 by IGLYO, OII Europe, and EPA. Since then, this guide for parents of intersex children has been translated into Icelandic, French, Greek, Portuguese, Turkish, and Dutch.

About this publication

Vader en kind zitten aan een tafel, Beiden hebben een pen in hun hand en het kind schrijft of tekent op een stuk papier. Lijntekening gemaakt met een enkele pennenstreek

Copyright

Illustrations
Valenty Kuzilina (Valenty )

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This online version is a glossary, footnotes, references, and expanded version of the print publication Support Your Intersex Child, A Guide for Parents, ISBN….. which is also available for download as a PDF.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, print-outs, copies, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner(s).