Intersex: The I in LGBTQIA

ABOUT

I will start by introducing myself, engaging the audience of people’s awareness, and then continue my introduction by disclosing my intersex identity and what that looks like for me. I will walk people through what my diagnostic process looked like and my age when diagnosed.
I will then shift the focus on the realities of unethical and unnecessary surgical interventions that intersex people are subjected to and the trauma this causes.
Followed by common misconceptions about being intersex, as well as how common being intersex is in society. With space for a Q & A.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Define the term intersex in a way that is not only medically accurate but also easy to understand.
Identify traumas from the medical field that are unique to intersex people and their bodies.
Teach common misconceptions about what it means to be intersex, how common being intersex is, and a few of the more common forms of intersex "conditions"

Ollie Laurie Robison (xe/he/they)

Meet the Presenter:

My name is Ollie, and I use xe, he, or they pronouns. I’m a Two-Spirit Indigiqueer person. I also happen to be intersex. By day I work at the Grand Rapids Pride Center, located in the heart of West Michigan. I wear many hats there, as most people who work for non-profits can relate to. My primary job titles are Healthcare Coordinator and Therapy Assistance Program Coordinator. In my non-work hours I dedicate my time towards helping trans youth getting connected with medicinal affirming care, as well as spending time volunteering my services to help administrate and moderate an online support space for trans, non binary, and questioning folks with almost 25,000 members.

Reviews from Previous Conferences

I learned more from this conference than I did from most of my grad school classes. As a queer nonbinary provider working with primarily queer and gender nonconforming folks, it is so important to hear from others who share these identities in how to best support and affirm my clients. I also really appreciated the letter writing training as it has allowed me to help so many clients access affirming care. I look forward to attending this upcoming year and continuing to listen and learn!

Every presenter was amazing and brought a wealth of information and experience to each session. I continue to use what I learned in the conference and in Van’s other trainings as a jumping off point to do my own self work and to better support my clients and the community. I've gotten so much out of previous conferences and I can't wait to attend this year's!

Attending this conference was a game-changer for me. It took me from being informed to embracing an affirming lens and practice, and I couldn't be more grateful for the experience. If you're looking to level up your understanding and support of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, trust me, the Do Something Identity(ies) conference is where it's at. You won't regret it!

As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and addiction specialist, I was blown away by the quality of content and selection offered during the conference. The robust selection of top-notch presenters was impressive and the topics covered a wide array of timely and relevant material. I would strongly encourage anyone working in any helping profession to attend this conference if at all possible. It is exactly this kind of content and presentation that is needed in order for us to heal ourselves and those around us.