Questions about Intersex Society of North America

Can ISNA refer me to a doctor, a counselor, or a support group?

Unfortunately, there are still very few supportive resources available to intersex people and their parents. In particular, there are literally no doctors in the country who focus on care for adults with intersex conditions. The main reason is that doctors have thought of intersex as a condition of childhood that is eliminated through surgery and creative interpretations of "truth".

Does ISNA run support groups or an e-mail list for people with intersex conditions?

The short answer is no. We have provided these resources in the ancient past, but unfortunately we currently do not provide them. A number of the groups listed in our "support groups section":/support do offer support services.

What can I do to help ISNA?

Many people contact us about how they might help ISNA. We hope the following suggestions help you find a meaningful way to support our mission: "Donate to ISNA":/donate and help us support our important work. *Become an ally*: An ally is a partner, friend, family member, or associate who is not herself or himself "intersexed":http://www.isna.org/faq/what_is_intersex, but is commited to fighting social and medical structures that hurt and erase intersex people. You do not have to be an intersex person to help create a world free of shame, secrecy, and unwanted genital surgeries on intersex children. *If you are a medical professional*: Find out what kind of treatments are provided to intersex people in your institution or clinic, and contact us so we can discuss how to improve them. Schedule a lunch or roundtable with your colleagues and invite someone from ISNA to attend. *If you are a medical or nursing student*: Help us educate your professors and other students. Read and watch our materials and share them with others. *If you are a reporter*: Write a story about intersex. Read the "suggested guidelines for writing about intersex":http://www.isna.org/node/977 and contact us for further input. *If you are a teacher in humanities or social sciences*: Integrate intersex issues into your courses by using our "library":http://www.isna.org/taxonomy/term/7 to find books, articles, and videos for your classes. Also, watch our website in the Spring of 2006 for teaching packets you can purchase. *If you are a college student*: Show our "documentary films":http://www.isna.org/videos on your campus or have your school sponsor someone from ISNA for a campus presentation. Take direct action by speaking with your teachers if they misuse or misrepresent intersex issues in classrooom settings. Help us by getting the word out and making your professors and classmates aware of our website. If V-Day inspires you, consider putting on a V-Day event at your school with proceeds going to ISNA to support our work. *If you are an activist*: Educate members of your organizations by sharing our materials and have the group pass a resolution in support of ISNA. Run a story about intersex in your newsletter. Make donations to ISNA when you can or purchase our materials so we can continue doing our important work. *Add an "I" to your LGBT organization*: If you're serious about doing advocacy work for intersex people, then adding an "I" might be appropriate for your organization. Rather than doing it in name only, we hope that organizations that choose to include an "I" do so because they want to educate their members about the issues intersex people face and are ready to commit to fighting the stigmatization of intersex people along with homophobia and transphobia.

What does ISNA do?

Because our resources are limited, we prioritize organizing efforts that would achieve systemic changes rather than simply providing service directly to intersex people and their family members. To that end, we focus our resources strategically on educating medical professionals as well as general society about issues faced by people with intersex conditions. To see what we're up to at "the moment, click here":/news/uptoMay2005.

What is ISNA's mission?

The Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) is devoted to systemic change to end shame, secrecy, and unwanted genital surgeries for people born with an anatomy that someone decided is not standard for male or female. We have learned from listening to individuals and families dealing with intersex that: Intersexuality is primarily a problem of stigma and trauma, not gender. * Parents' distress must not be treated by surgery on the child. * Professional mental health care is essential. * Honest, complete disclosure is good medicine. * All children should be assigned as boy or girl, without early surgery. We invite you to "learn more about our agenda":/agenda. If you'd like to help us push to have all medical care providers move to the "Patient-Centered model of care":/compare for intersex, please "make a donation":/donate. With your help, we can make the world a safer place for families dealing with intersex conditions.

Where is ISNA located?

Nowhere! Seriously, ISNA is a virtual organization; with activities being carried out in many locations throughout the country. Our staff, volunteers, and board interact on a daily basis via intranet, trouble ticketing system, email, and telephone (and occasionally even in person!). Here's how to "contact us":/about/contact.

Who are involved in ISNA?

ISNA has a tiny "staff":/about/staff, a volunteer "board of directors":/about/board, and a volunteer "Medical Advisory Board":/about/medicalboard in addition to a growing pool of donors, volunteers, and supporters. Our funding comes primarily from individual "donors like you":/donate, and secondarily from a small number of "progressive foundations":/about/funders.