Thursday 11 August 2011

Please Make Homo & Transsexuality Organization COC Aware Of Intersex

Recently the Dutch Minister of Education refused to allow education about homosexuality at Dutch schools. This was met by a lot of ridicule from the homosexuals in this country, as well as many others. The organization for homosexual rights in the Netherlands, http://www.coc.nl, set up an online petition to request education at schools on homosexuality and transsexuality: http://petities.nl/petitie/voorlichting-over-homoseksualiteit-op-elke-school

While I have signed this petition, I also sent COC a number of emails, requesting that they acknowledge and include intersex in this petition as well. After all we're all one big group, facing the same ignorance and irrational fears. We should stand together, not exclude each other. I won't exclude homo and transsexual people from my fight from restoring human rights, and I think it would be hypocritical of COC and similar organizations if they did exclude some groups. Either you're fighting for the human rights of all people, or you're just as bad by ignoring those of others.

You can send an email to COC at info@coc.nl. Please also CC the email to Sophie in 't Veld, a Dutch politician in the European Parliament involved in LGBTI rights, with whom I am in contact. Her email address is sophie.intveld@europarl.europa.eu. Do send me a copy of the response too via the contact form on my website or directly if we have emailed before.

Here are the English translations of the two emails I sent to COC the past weeks:

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Dear Sir/Madam,

How is it possible that the petition of COC Netherlands at http://petities.nl/petitie/voorlichting-over-homoseksualiteit-op-elke-school doesn't mention intersex people? We intersex people make for a large group of people in the Netherlands and we have the same and worse problems than homosexuals and transsexuals.

I and other intersexuals would very much appreciate it if intersexuals too would be included in this petition. We also have a petition at http://www.change.org/petitions/uphold-human-rights-for-intersex-people which is focused on the world-wide rights of intersex, transsexuals and homosexuals. Possibly you can pay attention to this as well.

Thank you in advance,


Maya Posch

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Email #2:

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Dear Sir/Madam,

I wanted to not withhold from you the following article on the systematic eradication of homosexuals, transsexuals and intersexuals: http://mayaposch.blogspot.com/2011/08/endlosung-to-inter-trans-and.html

Considering the fact that the about half a million intersexuals in the Netherlands have to experience similar and often worse experiences than trans- and homosexuals, including forced sex-reassignment surgery, I consider it incomprehensible that COC Netherlands ignores this group, both in her current petition as well in her general policies.

In my view it's incredibly ironic and tragic that COC with this excludes a part of her target audience in such a way. We must combine our forces, not ignore each other.


Maya

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