Premium Content:

New York issues first intersex birth certificate in USA

KEENAN

Sara Kelly Keenan has become the first person in New York to be issued a birth certificate that acknowledges their intersex status.

- Advertisement -

Keenan, a 55-year-old advocate and paralegal, has obtained a new birth certificate that identifies their gender as intersex rather than male or female. It is believed to be the first of birth certificate of its kind in the United States.

In 2016, Keenan became the second person in the USA to be legally identified as a non-binary person in the state of California. Keenan says the laws in their new home state of New York stipulate a biological identifier – meaning the non-binary label was unacceptable, but intersex was allowed.

Keenan is hopeful that the evolving spectrum of sexuality and gender will soon be available on all birth certificates.

“New York has opened the door and I don’t think they’ll be able to shut it again,” Keenan said.

Keenan says that it felt incredibly wonderful to see their truth printed on the official document.

“I always knew I was something other than what the boys were and something other than what the girls were but I didn’t know what that was and I thought I was alone in the world – whatever that was.”

Keenan is an avid advocate for intersex representation and rights, working with the Intersex and Genderqueer Recognition Project. Keenan says they have high hopes for the recognition of future intersex children.

“I don’t have a biological piece of the future but I have a heart piece of the future through those children because I can help them and give them a better experience.”

OIP Staff


Sources

Latest

THE HAUS arrives at The Aberdeen Hotel in September

A new night promises to be unapologetically LGBTIQA+

On This Gay Day: Musician Meshell Ndegeocello was born

American singer-songwriter, rapper and bass player Meshell Ndegeocello was born...

Review | ‘Speaking in Tongues’ is an engrossing and clever theatrical experience

Black Swan State Theatre Company's latest production is sensational.

Check out all the ways to celebrate Wear It Purple

There's great events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Newsletter

Don't miss

THE HAUS arrives at The Aberdeen Hotel in September

A new night promises to be unapologetically LGBTIQA+

On This Gay Day: Musician Meshell Ndegeocello was born

American singer-songwriter, rapper and bass player Meshell Ndegeocello was born...

Review | ‘Speaking in Tongues’ is an engrossing and clever theatrical experience

Black Swan State Theatre Company's latest production is sensational.

Check out all the ways to celebrate Wear It Purple

There's great events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

‘Law of Desire’ actor Eusebio Poncela dies aged 79

The actor had a long career in films in Spain and Argentina.

THE HAUS arrives at The Aberdeen Hotel in September

A new night promises to be unapologetically LGBTIQA+

On This Gay Day: Musician Meshell Ndegeocello was born

American singer-songwriter, rapper and bass player Meshell Ndegeocello was born on this day in 1968. Born into a military family in Berlin, Germany, she grew...

Review | ‘Speaking in Tongues’ is an engrossing and clever theatrical experience

Black Swan State Theatre Company's latest production is sensational.