Hacking the Gender Binary Myth: Recognizing Fundamental Rights for the Intersexed
Benson, Sara R.
Abstract
The article argues that current medical practices allowing parents and doctors to assign a physical sex to intersex children through surgery violate the child's fundamental rights to bodily integrity, personality, gender identity, and sexuality. These rights, while not yet fully defined in jurisprudence, provide a framework for protecting individuals from unwarranted governmental and medical intrusion. The article advocates for delaying such decisions until the child can consent, drawing on the Colombian Constitutional Court's recognition of a child's right to develop their gender identity. It also highlights the broader implications for transgender rights and challenges societal gender binaries.