Supporting Intersex People, Families, and Change-Makers Across Ireland

Intersex Ireland is an intersex-led, volunteer-run organisation working to advance the human rights, health, and wellbeing of intersex people across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Our services are grounded in lived experience, bodily autonomy, and a rights-based approach.

While our capacity is limited, we provide a range of vital supports, advocacy, and expertise at community, national, and European levels.

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Peer Support & Signposting

We offer informal peer support to intersex people, parents, and families seeking understanding, solidarity, and trusted information.

Our support includes:

• Listening and validation from intersex people with lived experience
• Signposting to appropriate medical, psychological, legal, and community resources
• Support for parents navigating early decisions following an intersex diagnosis
• Guidance for adults reflecting on past medical interventions or seeking affirming care

We do not provide medical advice, but we centre informed consent, bodily autonomy, and long-term wellbeing in all guidance.

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Advocacy & Policy Engagement

Intersex Ireland actively engages in advocacy to challenge harmful practices and influence systemic change.

Our advocacy work includes:

• Advising legislators on intersex-related policy and legislation (e.g. birth registration, bodily autonomy, non-binary recognition)
• Engagement with Children’s Health Ireland and other health bodies on clinical guidelines and standards of care
• National and EU-level policy input through ILGA-Europe, OII Europe, and allied networks
• Raising concerns about intersex-specific harms, including non-consensual medical interventions and conversion practices

We work to ensure intersex voices are present wherever decisions affecting our lives are made.

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Education, Training & Awareness

We provide education and training to organisations and professionals seeking to meaningfully include intersex people and address intersex-specific issues.

This includes:

• Training for LGBTQIA+ organisations on intersex inclusion beyond tokenism
• Awareness sessions for healthcare professionals, educators, and civil society groups
• Public speaking at conferences, panels, and events in Ireland and internationally
• Media guidance on respectful and accurate coverage of intersex issues

All training is grounded in lived experience and human rights frameworks.

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Research, Consultation & Collaboration

Intersex Ireland contributes intersex expertise to research, consultations, and collaborative projects where intersex perspectives are often missing or marginalised.

We collaborate with:

• Civil liberties and equality organisations
• Feminist and health policy organisations
• Academic and research bodies
• European and international intersex networks

Our contributions focus on ensuring intersex people are not treated as an afterthought within broader LGBTQIA+ or health agendas.

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Community Building & Representation

We prioritise community connection and visibility, recognising the isolation many intersex people experience.

This includes:

• Representation at national and international intersex and LGBTQIA+ forums
• Building networks between intersex people, allies, and organisations
• Creating safer spaces for intersex people to share experiences and organise collectively

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Important Note on Capacity

Intersex Ireland operates entirely on a voluntary basis and currently receives no core funding. This limits the scale and speed of our services, despite growing demand.

We are committed to transparency about what we can realistically provide, and we prioritise:

• Intersex people and families seeking support
• Advocacy opportunities with tangible impact
• Requests aligned with our values and capacity

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Get in Touch

If you would like to:

• seek support or information
• request training or a speaker
• discuss policy, research, or collaboration
• explore funding or partnership opportunities

Please contact us at: secretaryintersexie@gmail.com