Tue 24 Jan 2017 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Fashion model Hanne Gaby Odiele has come out publicly as intersex, making her one the first high-profile people to do so. In an interview with USA Today, Odiele says “It is very important to me in my life right now to break the taboo. “At this point, in this day and age, it should be perfectly all right to talk about this.” When she was born, Odiele was born with XY chromosomes and internal testes. Her parents were told that if the testes were not removed she may develop cancer “and I would not develop as a normal girl”. Odiele underwent surgery to remove her testes at age 10 and tells USA Today “I knew at one point after the surgery I could not have kids, I was not having my period. I knew something was wrong with me.” At age 18 she underwent vaginal reconstructive surgery and says the surgeries caused much anguish in her life “It’s not that big of a deal being intersex. “If they were just honest from the beginning... It became a trauma because of what they did.” The 29-year-old Belgium model, who has worked with brands including Chanel, Dior and Alexander Wang, now hopes to be an advocate for intersex youth and will be working with intersex advocacy organisation, InterACT. “I have reached a point in my life where I feel ready to share this important part of who I am,” Odiele says. “It is time for intersex people to come out of the shadows, claim our status, let go of shame, and speak out against the unnecessary and harmful surgeries many of us were subjected to as children. Intersex children born today are still at risk for these human rights violations. I will use my voice and platform to help end such abuses.” InterACT say “Nearly two-percent of the population is born with intersex traits, similar to the number of people born with red hair. “Despite how common it is to be intersex, laws, policies and medical best practices still fail to protect intersex people from unneeded and irreversible surgeries that are often both physically and psychologically detrimental. The surgical interventions are often driven by the fear of non-binary bodies, rather than medical necessity.” Founder of Intersex Awareness New Zealand (ITANZ) Mani Mitchell, says “I think its great, and watching the response today over Facebook such a strong articulate coming out like this does so much to address the shame and fear in our intersex community. “Very proud of what Hanne and interACT have done today - historic,” says Mitchell. Mitchell says Odiele coming out publicly is sure to also help to inform and support the parents of babies and children born intersex.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 24th January 2017 - 5:21pm