The Rustin Fund for Global Equality

This Pride month, the Rustin Fund for Global Equality is asking you to help us support Mexico-based Brújula Intersexual, an organization that makes intersex issues visible by denouncing the human rights violations experienced by intersex people.

In distributing information to and providing workshops for the general public as well as public servants, doctors, psychologists, and other professionals, Brújula Intersexual also collaborates with national human rights organizations to develop policies that protect intersex people from discrimination and that protect their human rights.

Xtagabe’ñe is the area for critical reflection and new narratives on intersex that makes up the Brújula Intersexual project.

In this area, we intend to develop creative projects based on the intersex experience that help strengthen the Spanish-speaking intersex community in Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean from an intercultural, intersectional, and decolonial approach.

The word Xtagabe’ñe comes from the Zapotec of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and means “Water lily” or “Lotus flower.” The Xtagabe’ñe is a hermaphrodite flower that has around 70 variations or species, each with its shapes, colors, and sizes. These flowers usually grow solitary, without forming clusters, but several can be found in the same lake or pond. Intersex people often grow up isolated from other people with similar sexual characteristics to ours. Even if there are several in the same town or city, we don’t know each other, but one day we may meet.

The petals of the water lily always come out clean and intact, even though they grow in the mud. Intersex people grow up surrounded by difficulties and unpleasant situations that, just like the stem of the water lily, remain underwater, hidden from everyone around us; however, despite this, we get up and get ahead.

Through the intersex movement, we fight to protect our human rights so that our right to bodily autonomy and self-determination is respected and the integrity of our bodies is preserved in the same way that the xtagabe’ñe flower maintains the integrity of its petals.

SUPPORT THE INTERSEX COMMUNITY IN MEXICO, LATIN AMERICA, AND THE CARIBBEAN!

The project in the Area of Critical Reflection and New Narratives of Brújula Intersexual consists of the creation of a virtual magazine about Intersexuality, through which it is intended to make a compilation of illustrations and narrative and lyrical texts that reflect the experiences of intersex in different sociocultural contexts of Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

The Rustin Fund for Global Equality was created in 2015 to honor the legacy of Bayard Rustin, a black, openly gay American civil rights activist.  The Rustin Fund is a web platform for grassroots LGBTQ+ organizations based in low and middle income countries to fundraise in the United States. You can start a fundraising “campaign” on our website and encourage your contacts in the United States to make financial contributions on-line.  Check out our website for more information.