Meet Gumi, an intersex activist and children’s book creator in the Philippines. She uses her passion for art and storytelling to raise awareness about intersex issues. Her upcoming book, “Interconnected,” tackles the story of two students: Tala, who navigates her intersex identity and the challenges of sharing it with others, and Maria, who faces the challenge of understanding and accepting her friend when everything is completely new. Why children’s books? And could it be the new way to advocate for social acceptance of intersex?
The Activism Journey
Every activist’s journey has a beginning. For Gumi, it started during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her organization joined the initiative “Stickers for Food PH,” which raised funds to feed Filipinos in need using art. This event opened the door to her activism path. Gumi saw the connection between art and activism and found ways to utilize her skills for social change.
The Intersex Asia fellowship program also played a key role in Gumi’s journey and her upcoming project. Designed and implemented by Intersex Asia, the program provided Gumi and other young activists with knowledge on the Intersex movement and opportunities like the IA Fellows Action Plan Grant. This grant ultimately funded the project and helped Gumi realize her vision of an intersex children’s book.
“I still don’t think I’m an activist compared to what everyone else has done,” Gumi humbly shared. “I just enjoy working on advocacy projects that utilize art to help the community.”
Why children’s book?
Having a book for intersex children has been Gumi’s passion for a long time. Gumi and her team spent a significant amount of time researching existing intersex media, consulting with other intersex people, and studying other books for inspiration.
“We looked at everything we could for inspiration on the book” Gumi says. “The intersex topic is still new and not easily grasped. We tried to make it relatable to others outside of the community so it would help guide discourse on the subject.” Ultimately, a children’s book with colorful illustrative images emerged as the perfect medium.
“Our team chose a children’s book as the medium because it appealed to our target audience and delivered information in an easy-to-understand manner,” Gumi shared.
Gumi believes this medium can be a powerful tool for raising awareness and fostering understanding about intersex issues, particularly among young people. “Children’s books have been constantly utilized to tell stories and raise awareness,” she explains. “It’s an effective medium as it invites readers, both parents and children, to talk about the intersex experience in our particular case openly.”
A page in “Interconnected”
The Path of Challenges
Of course, the project faced its fair share of challenges. These included the Philippine heat wave, which caused power outages, budget constraints, finding team members, and unforeseen obstacles.
“Being honest, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution,” Gumi says. “The best advice would be to adapt and think outside the box. If one plan doesn’t work, have a backup.”
However, the biggest challenge was accurately and sensitively portraying intersex experiences in the story and visuals. To achieve this, Gumi and her team consulted with several intersex activists and secured their approval before finalizing the story and character designs. This was crucial, as the book could shape readers’ impressions of intersex people. One false portrayal could take years to correct.
“We want to give the most accurate experience of intersex children, yet make it easy to understand and resonate with even people outside the community,” Gumi said. “The message is always up to the readers or how they interpret it. We just hope it helps provide comfort to those who need it or at least educates others on the movement.”
The intersex community doesn’t stand alone. The understanding of friends and family plays a vital role in shaping social acceptance. The character Maria embodies Gumi and the team’s effort to portray how support from loved ones can make a big difference.
Looking Ahead
Gumi hopes the children’s book “Interconnected” will aid in raising awareness and guide discussions for people discovering their intersex identity, as well as for those learning about an intersex friend or family member. While uncertain about her future plans, Gumi is determined to continue using her creative projects to raise awareness and represent diverse stories in the media.
“If possible, our team hopes to carry on with our creative projects to raise awareness and represent diverse stories in the media,” Gumi says. “We will continue to try and apply for grants while working with communities to get their stories heard. Who knows, you may see a series of children’s books from us one day!”
“Interconnected” can be read here.
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