Abbreviation OII Australia Type NGO | Formation 2009 Region served Australia | |
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Purpose Intersex human rights, education and peer support Co-executive directors Tony Briffa and Morgan Carpenter | ||
Organisation Intersex International Australia (OII Australia) is an unfunded voluntary organisation for intersex people that promotes the human rights and bodily autonomy of intersex people in Australia, and provides peer support, education and information. Established in 2009, incorporated as a charitable company in 2010, and recognised as a Public Benevolent Institution, the organisation has played an active role during a period where it has been asserted, "Australia can lead the way for intersex people".
Contents
Board history
The current co-executive directors of OII Australia are Morgan Carpenter, previously president, and Tony Briffa, known as the first publicly intersex mayor and previously vice-president. Tony Briffa is also the Vice-President of the Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group Australia. Founding president Gina Wilson stepped down on 1 September 2013. Founding Vice-President Chris Somers xxy also stepped down into a board position on 1 September 2013.
Anti-discrimination legislation
In late 2012, the Australian Governments' proposed Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill included intersex as a "gender identity". This was criticised by OII Australia on the basis that intersex people needed protection, but biological differences should not come within the definition. Writing in the Equal Rights Trust journal Equal Rights Review, Gina Wilson wrote, "Legislators initially did not have a clear understanding of what intersex was, but having given evidence to Senate Committees and spoken with legislators individually we are hopeful that intersex will be a protected attribute under the Bill." The Senate Standing Committees on Legal and Constitutional Affairs published a report on the Bill which agreed with the position taken by OII Australia, leading to the creation of a new protected attribute. The Report stated:
On 25 June 2013, the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Act passed with cross-party support, and became law on 1 August 2013. This was the first time "intersex status" had been a protected attribute under Australian discrimination legislation.
Bodily autonomy
OII Australia campaigns in favour of personal autonomy in all medical intervention affecting intersex people, and an end to cosmetic or "normalising" surgeries on intersex infants. In late 2012, the Senate's Community Affairs References Committee established an inquiry into the involuntary or coerced sterilisation of people with disabilities. In February 2013, intersex was added as an additional term of reference. The Committee published a joint, cross-party report on 25 October 2013, making 15 recommendations. The conclusions of the inquiry supported much of the case and recommendations made by OII Australia:
Writing at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's The Drum website, Morgan Carpenter, the president of OII Australia wrote, "The Senate Committee has changed the debate on the correct treatment of intersex differences. If adopted, its recommendations will effectively protect the rights of intersex children and future adults."
OII Australia campaigns against the inclusion of intersex as a "Disorder of Sex Development" in descriptions of "gender dysphoria".
The organisation also engages directly with clinicians and biologists. While opposing use of "pathologising terminology" such as "Disorders of Sex Development" or "DSD", the president of OII Australia is nevertheless named as a reviewer for a "DSD Genetics" website funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council Australia.
In a submission to the UN Committee Against Torture in 2016, the organisation submitted that Australian governments recognise the dignity and rights of LGBTI (LGBT and intersex) people, but at the same time, "harmful practices" on intersex children continue.
Access to healthcare
In July 2013, the Commonwealth announced that it was removing sex or gender terms from item codes for Medicare procedures, following input from OII Australia. OII Australia noted that the changes do not ensure full access to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Sex and gender recognition
The organisation states that "while sex or gender markers are still required", it supports binary, non-binary and multiple gender classifications for adults, but only binary classifications for infants and children, fearing stigmatisation and the potential impact on sex assignment processes for infants. This strategy is aligned with a statement by the third international intersex forum, which occurred in Malta in November–December 2013. In June 2013, OII Australia welcomed the publication of federal guidelines recognising sex and gender, stating, "The guidelines do not oblige intersex people to identify with a specific gender... the guidelines recognise that an intersex person might choose to identify as male, female, or intersex, unspecified or indeterminate." In contrast, the organisation cautiously acknowledged an Australian Capital Territory Bill to modify the Territory's birth registrations process, stating, "neither of the two national intersex organisations had been engaged in talks before the bill was presented in the Assembly."
Marriage
Long active on marriage issues, OII Australia has argued that both "same-sex marriage" and opposite sex marriage exclude intersex people.
Peer support, education and information
The organisation prioritises peer support for individuals via its website, email, social media and telephone. It also provides educational and information services for institutions and organisations.
Awards and recognition
Founding former president Gina Wilson was a finalist for the Australian Human Rights Commission Community Individual Award, 2013. The Commission describes the award as one of "the two most vigourously contested categories for the 2013 Australian Human Rights Awards" commenting that, "Gina Wilson is the founder of Organisation Intersex International (OII) Australia, and was its president until September 2013. Her intersex advocacy work has been ground-breaking, helping to achieve authentic and appropriate inclusion in anti-discrimination legislation."
The organisation was nominated for a 2013 Community Organisation "Honour" Award for its work on anti-discrimination legislation. Then president, Gina Wilson, was nominated for a Community Hero Award in 2011.
Affiliations
OII Australia is a national affiliate of Organisation Intersex International, a member of the National LGBTI Health Alliance and the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association.