2 min read

Intersex People Prove There Are More Than Two Genders

Joseph Backholm May 14, 2020 4:05:29 AM

LGBTQ+

You’re in a conversation and someone says, “Some people are born not male or female, but are intersex. This proves there are more than two genders.”

What would you say?

Some people are born with a reproductive system that does not match what is typically considered male or female. Does that mean they represent a sex or gender other than male and female? No. And here are two reasons why.

1. The intersex condition is a disorder of sexual development, not a new gender.

2. The intersex condition does not change anything about who we are as a species.

You’re in a conversation and someone says, “Some people are born not male or female, but are intersex. This proves there are more than two genders.” What would you say? Some people are born with a reproductive system that does not match what is typically considered male or female. Does that mean they represent a sex or gender other than male and female? No. And here are two reasons why. First, the intersex condition is a disorder of sexual development, not a new gender. It’s true that some reproductive systems don’t develop neatly along male or female lines, but this only demonstrates that our bodies are imperfect. Some people are born without limbs, others are born blind. Some are born with extra chromosomes while others are born with missing chromosomes. Disorders of sexual development are not evidence of a new sex category any more than disorders of the cardiac or respiratory systems are evidence of new kinds of hearts or lungs. A baby born with ambiguous genitalia is not evidence of a new sex within the human species. This brings us to the second point. The intersex condition does not change anything about who we are as a species. Disorders of sexual development do not create a new chromosome, a new sex hormone, or a new type of genitalia. These disorders do not replace the need for male or female nor do they offer a different way to reproduce. They are simply evidence that sometimes our bodies don’t develop or function as designed. The intersex condition is real, and like every physical challenge or variation from the ideal, those who face this condition are worthy of all dignity and respect as human beings. But the existence of intersex people should not lead us to conclusions that are not supported by the facts. So next time someone tells you that because some people are intersex this prove there are more than 2 genders, remember these two things. The intersex condition is a disorder of sexual development, not a new gender. Every part of our body risks developing imperfectly, including our reproductive systems. The intersex condition does not change anything about who we are as a species. It doesn’t create new chromosomes, sex hormones, or genitalia. Genetic variations do not create new genders, just unique people.