Mani Mitchell, founder of the Intersex Trust of Aotearoa New Zealand (ITANZ) has been recognised for their contribution to the intersex community at the New Zealander of the Year Awards. Photo credit: Lance Lawson Mitchell has received a Kiwi Bank Local Hero Award in recognition of the important work they do for the intersex community both locally and internationally. Establishing the world’s first charitable trust for intersex people nearly 20 years ago, Mitchell is a passionate and dedicated advocate for the intersex community. “I am not an 'awards person' - but its been a humbling experience and I have been deeply touched by all the comments that have flowed from the community, my trust board (many of whom were at the ceremony) family and friends,” says Mitchell. Mitchell has been paramount in increasing intersex visibility and has previously been recognised for their role in the documentary, Intersexion. “I think it’s a milestone moment,” says Mitchell. “When I started this work no one (outside of medicine or a few academic circles) knew what intersex was or meant... we have succeeded in raising awareness in the LGBTI community and society in general the movie Intersexion was a big part of that.” Acknowledging the battle is far from over, Mitchell says: “My frustration and sadness is we have been unable to change the medical model that remains stuck in a binary view of gender and focused on correction and normalisation. We have more work to do its not time to 'go home yet'.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 25th November 2015 - 10:05am