Intersex Day of Remembrance

Intersex Day of Remembrance, also known as Intersex Day of Solidarity, is observed annually on November 8. On this day the intersex community and its allies commemorate the birthday of Herculine Barbin (born 8 November 1838), a French intersex person whose life and memoirs helped bring attention to the experiences of intersex people.

History of Intersex Day of Remembrance

The day began in 2005 when Organisation Intersex International (OII) issued a call for individuals and organizations to mark solidarity on 8 November, honoring Herculine Barbin’s birthday and reflecting on issues faced by intersex people.
Barbin’s life story became symbolic within the intersex human rights movement: assigned female at birth, later legally declared male after medical investigation, and author of memoirs that expressed the pain of forced conformity and social rejection. Her experience still resonates with many intersex individuals and supports the call for bodily autonomy, recognition, and respect.

Why is Intersex Day of Remembrance important?

This day highlights that intersex people face unique human-rights issues—including non-consensual medical interventions, legal invisibility, discrimination in healthcare or society, and social stigma. By remembering and bringing these issues into public view, the observance helps promote awareness, solidarity, and change.
It also honors the lives that have been harmed or lost, the resilience of intersex people, and the ongoing fight for recognition, dignity, and bodily self-determination. It invites allies, policymakers, and communities to reflect on how systems can change to be more inclusive and supportive.

Here are some simple points why the day matters:

• It honors intersex lives and history, including the life of Herculine Barbin.
• It draws attention to harmful practices such as surgeries on intersex children without informed consent.
• It promotes the idea of bodily autonomy and intersex people’s right to self-determination.
• It encourages society to revise legal, medical, and social norms around sex and gender.
• It builds solidarity and support networks for intersex people globally.

How to Celebrate Intersex Day of Remembrance

Observing this day can involve both solemn reflection and active support. You might attend a discussion or event organized by intersex rights groups, or share educational materials about intersex issues. Recognizing the diversity of sex characteristics and promoting respectful language and policies are also meaningful ways to engage.
You can also show solidarity by actively listening to intersex voices, supporting relevant advocacy organizations, and challenging stigmas or outdated beliefs within your sphere of influence.

Here are five practical ways to observe:

• Share a post or article about intersex rights and the significance of 8 November.
• Read about Herculine Barbin and the history of intersex activism, then share a summary with friends or on social media.
• Support an intersex advocacy organization (via donation, volunteer work, or amplifying their message).
• Encourage or join your organization, school, or workplace to recognize intersex rights and inclusive policies.
• Use inclusive language (regarding sex, gender, bodies) and challenge assumptions about “male or female only” in your conversations.

Intersex Day of Remembrance Dates Table