Intersex Philippines, Inc. is focusing on strengthening its organizational structure with the development of a manual – “Intersex Emergence” – on community organizing, and piloting the same to capacitate its members.
The intersex community’s issues are unique, said Jeff Cagandahan, who helms Intersex Philippines, Inc., adding that it is therefore “ideal for intersex people to surface to (ensure that these issues are not neglected, and are tackled).”
Here, an approach that is “by intersex people, for intersex people is needed for inclusive responses to intersex concerns/issues.” And obviously, “it starts with organizing members of the intersex community, empowering them to deal with their own issues,” Cagandahan added.
Intersex Philippines, Inc. is the first, and still only, organization formed by, and serving the intersex community in the Philippines. Co-founded by Cagandahan in 2017, it was legally registered in 2019; and now has approximately 50 members from all over the country.
The manual and the piloting of the same are only parts of the growing number of activities planned by Intersex Philippines, Inc., as it hopes to “mainstream intersex issues in the Philippines.” Efforts include awareness raising; policy development; and development of medical, legal and psychosocial supports for intersex people and their families in the Philippines.
