When it comes to sexual anatomy, not everyone is born with bodies that fit typical definitions of male or female. Like with other human traits, internal and external gentalia can come in different varieties. There's research that's found being intersex is about as common as having red hair.

Today, we talk with members of the intersex community seeking to pass laws in Connecticut and elsewhere to protect them from discrimination and to stop doctors from performing "normalizing" surgeries on intersex children until they are old enough to give their consent.

Many urologists and medical groups are urging against such a ban. What's "medically necessary" when it comes to such surgeries is complicated and needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis, they maintain.

But there are stories of intersex children never being told the real reason why they underwent surgery and only finding out later as adults. In some cases, even their parents didn't know.

When it comes to sexual anatomy, not everyone is born with bodies that fit typical definitions of male or female. Like with other human traits, internal and external gentalia can come in different varieties. There's research that's found <a href="https://www.intersexequality.com/how-common-is-intersex-in-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.intersexequality.com/how-common-is-intersex-in-humans/">being intersex </a>is about as common as having red hair.
Today, we talk with members of the intersex community seeking to pass laws <a href="https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;which_year=2019&amp;bill_num=388" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;which_year=2019&amp;bill_num=388">in Connecticut</a> and elsewhere to protect them from discrimination and to stop doctors from performing "normalizing" surgeries on intersex children until they are old enough to give their consent.
Many urologists and medical groups are urging against such a ban. What's "medically necessary" when it comes to such surgeries is complicated and needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis, they maintain.
But there are stories of intersex children never being told the real reason why they underwent surgery and only finding out later as adults. In some cases, even their parents didn't know.

Produced by Connecticut Public, 'Where We Live' puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Where We Live is a call-in talk show about who we are in Connecticut and our place in the world.

Where We Live

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

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