Through all times of revolts, questioning and debates revolving around the LGBT issue, a major chunk i.e. “QIA” is left unanswered. Here, Q being a queer; I being intersex and A being asexual. Though considerably they don’t form a major part of the lgbtqia group but are a significant part of the society. About 0.05% to 0.1% of the entire population are these beautiful intersex people.
According to the UN For LGBT Equality fact sheet, “intersex people are born with sex characteristics (including genitals, gonads and chromosome patterns) that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies. Intersex is an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of natural bodily variations. In some cases, intersex traits are visible at birth while in others, they are not apparent until puberty. Some chromosomal intersex variations may not be physically apparent at all. According to experts, between 0.05% and 1.7% of the population is born with intersex traits. An intersex person may be straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual or asexual, and may identify as female, male, both or neither.” Intersex is used as a wide term to undertake all the natural and biological body variation that could possibly occur in a human body. It includes all the varied hormone difference in a male and female body into one. Intersex people at times do not realise their bodily difference until puberty and even after before that. The variations may be minute enough to be ignored but the fact exists. They suffer from social, physical and mental abuse throughout their journey of life. Facing problems like using a toilet, ascribing themselves a gender. Though their sexual orientation may differ according to their choices yet they aren’t giving the adequate freedom to be on their own. Intersex is a fact and has to be accepted widely. They form a part of this society and have every right to sustain within with respect and rights.
They are not protected from violations of any kind. Even the recent Transgender Bill, 2016 entails upon intersex being a part of LGBTQIA group. It is the need of the hour to provide them with a hospitable environment to live in.
Usually, in India the term referred is third sex which is inclusive of all categories apart from the general male and female categorization. I reckon, the term third sex because neither a male nor a female is specified as either a first sex or second sex in the law derivative from the grund norm. The concept of third gender therefore does not arise.
They are a part of the community and therefore should inculcated in with love and respect.