Recognizing the rights of intersex individuals in the Philippines

• Main Author: Castillo, Cris Vincent V.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2020
• Subjects: Intersex people > Civil rights > Philippines; Law
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdm_law/2; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=etdm_law
• Institution: De La Salle University

“Intersex people are born with sex characteristics (including genitals, gonads and chromosome patterns) that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies. In addition, Intersex is an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of natural bodily variations. In some cases, intersex traits are visible at birth while in others, they are not apparent until puberty.” This study discusses the need for a law that will protect the rights and interests of intersex individuals in the Philippines, a law that will: (a) legally recognize them; (b) normalize the treatment of intersex persons; (c) protect them from unnecessary medicalization; (d) grant them equal protection and treatment as male, female, and as intersex for those who opt not to be classified as either male or female; (e) grant them access to information, medical records, psychological and other counseling support; and (f) expeditious access to and corrections of official documents, and the recognition of intersex option in the birth certificate.