24 January 2025 – Intersex Asia, Intersex Philippines, Campaign for Change Nepal and OII-Chinese are strongly against the recent Executive Order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump, titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.” This order targets transgender, nonbinary, and intersex communities by erasing their identities, denying their rights, and imposing a narrow, exclusionary definition of biological reality. Such policy is not only regressive but also scientifically inaccurate and deeply harmful to the intersex community in the US and worldwide.
Human sex characteristics exist on a spectrum, and intersex people’s existence is the living proof of this diversity. Intersex individuals are born with innate variations in sex characteristics that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies. Despite claiming to protect women’s rights by enforcing a rigid binary system, deeming it “non-changeable and grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality”, this Executive Order denies the existence and rights of intersex people, further marginalizing a community that has long been neglected in healthcare, education, and social programs worldwide.
Despite the long evidence of intersex existence in history, the movement of the intersex community has only begun recently and started to build its foundation and visibility. Over the past decades, intersex activists and organizations have worked tirelessly to raise awareness about intersex issues, advocate for bodily autonomy, and challenge harmful practices such as non-consensual surgeries on intersex children. These efforts have started to bear fruit, with increased recognition and visibility of intersex rights in some regions and global human rights discussions.
However, this Executive Order threatens to undo much of this progress. By legitimizing a binary view of sex and erasing intersex identities, it risks pushing the intersex movement back to square one. It can send a dangerous message that governments can ignore the existence of intersex people and deny their rights. Furthermore, the dominant global position of the United States can trigger a domino effect in which other governments can follow and undo the progress of intersex activism. This is no longer a US concern but can be a global issue. For a movement that is still very young, this is a devastating blow.
“This Executive Order is a direct attack on the rights of intersex people. It ignores the reality of human diversity and seeks to erase intersex identities at a time when our movement is just beginning to gain visibility. We cannot accept this to set us back. Intersex rights are human rights!” said Hiker Chiu, Executive Director of Intersex Asia.
Intersex Asia, Intersex Philippines, Campaign for Change Nepal, and other intersex groups from the regions stand in solidarity with intersex, transgender, and nonbinary communities in the U.S. and around the world. We reaffirm our commitment to fighting for the rights of intersex people in Asia and beyond, ensuring that everyone can live with dignity, free from discrimination, violence, and erasure.
“This policy is a critical reminder that the fight for intersex rights globally is far from over. In Nepal, we have made strides in recognizing gender diversity, but this Executive Order shows that the struggle of intersex people still exists even in a big country like the US and globally. We stand with our intersex siblings in the U.S. and around the world, and we will not let this setback silence our voices.” Esan Regmi, Executive Director of Campaign for Change Nepal said.
Echoing the voice of Esan and Hiker, Jeff Cagandahan, Executive Director of Intersex Philippines also said: “Intersex people have always existed, our identities are valid and rooted in history. This Executive Order is an attempt to erase us along with transgender and non-binary community, but we will not be erased! In the Philippines, we are working hard to build acceptance, both in the community and government through the Cagandahan Bill. We stand in solidarity with the global intersex community and will continue to lend our strength to the global movement, no matter the obstacles.”
Intersex people deserve to be seen, heard, and respected. Limiting human diversity to a binary system, for whatever reason, only leads to harm and neglect. We call on governments, organizations, and individuals to reject this harmful policy and to uphold the principles of inclusion, respect, and human rights for all. Intersex Asia, Intersex Philippines, Campaign for Change Nepal and OII-Chinese will continue to advocate for the recognition of intersex people’s rights to self-determination, bodily autonomy, and access to inclusive healthcare and legal recognition. The global union to resist all forms of exclusion and oppression is now more important than ever!
This is a joint statement of Intersex Asia, Intersex Philippines, and Campaign for Change Nepal.‘
