Episode Description
State laws across the country, and now even federal policies, increasingly target transgender people and LGBTQ people more broadly. Lifesaving, necessary gender-affirming care is being restricted or criminalized. Discriminatory policies and legislation, such as proper identity document bans, restrictions on participation in sports, and “sex definition” laws that police public restrooms, are attacking people in their day-to-day lives. What people may not realize, is that every one of these laws and policies affects intersex people, too, and that is why organizations like interACT are so important. From education to support, interACT is working to affirm trans and intersex folks in the fight to access lifesaving, necessary care. Today In the Den, we’ll cover some important basic information that will explain intersex conditions, and we’ll talk about how we can better support and affirm the intersex folks in our lives and in our country.
Special Guest: Bria Brown-King
Bria Brown-King (They/She) is a Black, queer, non-binary, and intersex person. Bria is the Associate Executive Director at interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth. Bria got their start in intersex advocacy in 2018 as an interACT Youth Advocate. In 2019, they became the first openly intersex person to speak about intersex issues on the steps of the Supreme Court. In their current role, Bria facilitates education on intersex issues, works to close the gap in intersex-affirming research and data collection, and serves on multiple advisory boards, representing intersex people nationally and internationally.
Special Guest: Dr. Bonnie Scranton
Dr. Scraton is a licensed clinical social worker, AASECT-certified sex therapist and sexual health educator, and an assistant professor of social work at Central Connecticut State University. She maintains a private practice and serves on a multidisciplinary team at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where she supports children with variations in sex characteristics and their families. Motivated by both her clinical work and her lived experience as the parent of a child with an intersex variation, Bonnie's doctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania resulted in the development of Project LISTEN, a peer support and empowerment program for parents newly learning about their child’s variation. The program is designed to provide information, connection, and support for parents and caregivers, helping families ensure children grow up with agency and ownership over their bodies and medical decisions.
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