Interact Advocates for Intersex Youth

interACT
Founded 2006
Founder Anne Tamar-Mattis
Focus Civil rights advocacy
Location
Area served
United States
Key people
 Kimberly Zieselman, JD
(Executive Director)
 Anne Tamar-Mattis, JD
(Legal Director)
Website interactadvocates.org

interACT or interACT Advocates for Intersex Youth, formerly known as Advocates for Informed Choice,[1] is a nonprofit organization using innovative strategies to advocate for the legal and human rights of children born with intersex traits. The organization was founded in 2006.[2]

History and structure

interACT was founded in 2006 in Cotati, California.[2][3] The organization is now based in Sudbury, MA. Other issues of focus are informed consent, insurance, identity documents, school accommodation, discrimination, medical records retrieval, adoption, military service, medical privacy, refugee asylum, and wider international human rights.[4][5][6]

The current board of directors includes Arlene Baratz, MD, Georgiann Davis, Emily Doskow, JD, Julie Greenberg, JD, Eric Lohman, Lynnell Stephani Long, Mani Mitchell, Karen Walsh, and Reid Williams.[7]

Staff include Kimberly Zieselman, JD,[8] Executive Director, and Anne Tamar-Mattis, JD, Legal Director.

Landmark lawsuit filed

On May 14, 2013, interACT, The Southern Poverty Law Center, and pro bono counsel for the private law firms of Janet, Jenner & Suggs and Steptoe & Johnson LLP filed a lawsuit against South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS), Greenville Health System, Medical University of South Carolina and individual employees for performing an irreversible and medically unnecessary surgery on an infant who was in the state’s care at the time of the surgery.[9][10][11][12][13][14]

Youth leadership development

interACT Youth[15] is a program for intersex youth, run by intersex youth. All members are 14 - 25, have intersex traits, and are in a place where they are ready to speak out about their experiences. interACT Youth works to provide tomorrow's scholars and activists a platform for their vital perspectives. A product of this work entitled "What We Wish Our Doctors Knew"[16] is the first of its kind: Intersex youth talking back to medical providers and caregivers. InterACT Youth is funded in part by Ms. Foundation and Liberty Hill Foundation.

Fiscal sponsorship

The Interface Project is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating under the fiscal sponsorship of interACT. Founded in 2012, and currently curated by Jim Ambrose, The Interface Project features stories of people born with intersex traits - or variations of sex anatomy - under the banner: No Body Is Shameful ®.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Mission and History". interACT. 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  2. 1 2 "AIC's Mission". aiclegal.org. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "Resolve: Healing the Legacy of Intersex/DSD Treatment". Ashoka Foundation. 2012.
  4. ↑ "AIC: What we do". Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  5. ↑ Tamar-Mattis, Anne (2012-12-10). "Report to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture: Medical Treatment of People with Intersex Conditions as Torture and Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment" (PDF) (Press release). AIC. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
  6. ↑ Tamar-Mattis, Anne (April 19, 2012). "Sterilization and Minors with Intersex Conditions in California Law". California Law Review.
  7. ↑ "Our Board of Directors". interACT. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  8. ↑ "AIC announces transition & staff changes". Advocates for Informed Choice Blog. Advocates for Informed Choice. July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  9. ↑ "AIC's Groundbreaking Lawsuit Accuses South Carolina, Doctors and Hospitals of Performing Unnecessary Surgery on Infant". Advocates for Informed Choice. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  10. ↑ "Groundbreaking SPLC lawsuit accuses South Carolina, doctors and hospitals of unnecessary surgery on infant". Southern Poverty Law Center. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  11. ↑ Sesana, Laura (18 May 2013). "Adoptive parents sue over son's sex-assignment surgery". The Washington Times. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  12. ↑ Daily Kos: Sex change surgery performed on 16-month-old South Carolina child without consent
  13. ↑ Lawsuit Filed Over Unnecessary Surgery on Intersex Baby | Advocate.com
  14. ↑ Hospital Sued For Performing Unneeded Sex-Assignment Surgery on Baby
  15. ↑ "interACT Youth".
  16. ↑ http://aiclegal.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/interact_ms-updated.pdf
  17. ↑ "The Interface Project". The Interface Project. 2012.

External links

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