http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=226x7353Oh my.
tabatha (1000+ posts) Mon Sep-14-09 12:26 AM
Original message
I feel for Caster Semenya - I am a woman with male chromosomes
My heart goes out to Caster Semenya, few can imagine what it feels like to have your whole world turned upside-down – as hers has been.
I really do feel for what Caster’s going though – the shock, fear, doubt, sudden sense of being very alone in the world. And the terrible dawning question – who am I? Will people still accept me?
Will anyone be able to love me, if I’m not a normal woman?
I found out the truth that I’m intersexed in a very sudden, shocking way.
Although I don’t wish to speculate on Caster’s diagnosis – that’s her private business – I want her to know that she is not alone. And only she can decide her gender – nobody else can.
Like Caster I had absolutely no idea that I was intersexed – nor did any of my partners. But my doctor and gynaecologists did know the truth about my body.
I was lied to – and my parents were too. This wasn’t a one-off. It was standard policy (until the mid-1990s) to hide the truth about all intersex conditions like mine.
I was 25 when I found out the extent of the cover-up.
The shock of suddenly being told the true nature of my diagnosis – with no support and after being systematically lied to for so many years – nearly killed me. I went into an emotional meltdown.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/more-sport/athletics/2009...
You know, I think I was circa 4 years old when I finally realized that, oops, the rest of the world wasn't deaf like me. But I don't recall going into an emotional meltdown.
LiberalAndProud (1000+ posts) Mon Sep-14-09 12:41 AM
Response to Original message
1. Profound. Thought provoking. Sad.
And Caster is on suicide watch? Doubly sad.
The Kali primitive from southernmost Texas, not to be confused with the bitter old Vermontese cali primitive:
Kali (1000+ posts) Mon Sep-14-09 12:46 AM
Response to Original message
2. I though YOU were telling this story until I clicked the link
thought the link was to her story
The Gloria Swanson primitive:
Tangerine LaBamba (1000+ posts) Mon Sep-14-09 01:21 AM
Response to Reply #2
4. I thought the same thing - maybe quotation marks - or some indication that the story was a cut and copy - would have been nice.
I hate when this happens - I just feel sucked in and duped.
tabatha (1000+ posts) Mon Sep-14-09 09:24 AM
Response to Reply #4
5. Apologies, I should have thought of that.
xchrom (1000+ posts) Mon Sep-14-09 01:04 AM
Response to Original message
3. kicking for all my peeps.
roguevalley (1000+ posts) Tue Sep-15-09 01:25 AM
Response to Original message
6. she is whatever she considered herself to be in my book. Female?
Fine. They need to accept it. Ambiguous sexuality is more common than most know and its a backbreaker. You have my hugs, honey.
