What are the main points of disagreement?
Let’s begin by understanding what both sides actually agree on. First, supporters and opponents of “DSD” do not necessarily disagree over how intersex children should be treated. It is not true that supporters of “DSD” endorse medically unnecessary surgeries on children: there are those who support it, mostly doctors and parents, but many supporters of the term “DSD” actually oppose unconsensual genital surgeries on children just as much. Medical treatment does not have to equal surgeries: in fact, activists have called for more resources such as counseling and support groups to be offered to parents as well as children old enough to participate in it. Another point many of us actually agree on is that we all want to end stigma. It is not the case that one side is against stigma and the other disinterested: both sides wish to stop stigmatization of intersex bodies, but there are competing perceptions over which label stigmatizes intersex bodies further. Supporters of “DSD” believe that
