Sunday 26 October 2025 is Intersex Awareness Day Intersex Awareness Day was first established in 2004 to highlight human rights issues faced by intersex people.
Intersex people are born with sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female; they may also be described as people with sex characteristic variations. One of the major human rights issues facing intersex people is that of non-consensual surgeries performed on intersex children.
While not all intersex people are LGBTQ+, LGBTQ+ activism and advocacy work has increasingly moved toward being inclusive of intersex people, views and issues in recognition of significant shared and overlapping experiences.
Being intersex is not the same thing as being non-binary (experiencing one’s gender as neither wholly “man” nor wholly “woman”), although some intersex people may also be non-binary.
Rach Vowden, Co-Chair of the Trans and Non-Binary Staff Network, said: “The Trans and Non-Binary Staff Network is proud to be inclusive of intersex colleagues. The network welcomes intersex staff and aims to raise awareness of the unique experiences and challenges intersex people may face. By creating a supportive space, the network ensures that trans, non-binary and intersex voices are represented within the University.”
Further Reading and Resources
Support for staff and students
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Our Trans and Non-Binary Staff Network at Sussex is a confidential and fully inclusive group open to all Sussex staff who identify as trans, non-binary or intersex. You can join the confidential mailing list by contacting transnonbinarystaff@sussex.ac.uk. The mailing list is monitored and accessed solely by the Chair of the Trans and Non-binary Staff Network.
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Staff members who identify as LGBTQ+ can join our LGBTQ+ Staff Network by contacting lgbt-staff@sussex.ac.uk. The LGBTQ+ Staff Network arranges events and activities through the year, and provides an informal network of LGBTQ+ staff. Many of their events are open to all staff, and some events are also open to students. To find out more, see the Staff Networks page.
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Students who identify as trans and/or non-binary, or who are intersex, can contact the Students’ Union Trans and Non-Binary group by emailing transnonbinary@sussexstudent.com. They can also get involved with Transcend, a SU-affiliated Campaign and Network aimed at uplifting the lives of trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming students at the University of Sussex and beyond: transcend.sussex@sussexstudent.com
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Students who identify as LGBTQ+ can join the Students’ Union’s LGBTQ+ Society and contact the Students’ Union officers for support.
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The University of Sussex is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for every member of its community. If you or someone else has experienced behaviours such as bullying, harassment, a hate incident, sexual violence, domestic abuse or discrimination, you can let us know using Report and Support.
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The University’s Wellbeing Support Guidecontains a dedicated section signposting to a variety of LGBTQ+-specific resources.
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Students can find resources and support at the Student Centre and on the Sexuality and Gender Support and Information web pages.
E-learning
Staff may wish to explore relevant e-learnings around Intersex Awareness Day. In addition to the mandatory Diversity in the Workplace e-learning, the university also provides courses in Trans and Non-Binary Awareness and a guide for managers on Supporting Trans and Non-Binary People at Work.