Today, on Intersex Awareness Day, the Darlington Consortium of intersex-led and allied organisations working towards implementation of the Darlington Statement in Australia is proud to announce the recipient of the inaugural Darlington intersex ally award for 2021 as the Queensland Council for LGBTI Health.
The Darling award is presented to an organisation, institution or individual that has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to action on intersex issues, beyond affirming the Darlington Statement. This Statement, created in 2017, is a community consensus statement that sets out the demands of the intersex community in Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand. It calls for recognition of our right to bodily integrity, and outlines the systemic changes needed to ensure their enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, wellbeing and other human rights.
Congratulations and thank you to The Queensland Council for LGBTI Health (QC).
“QC have progressed the aims of the Darlington Statement through directing funds and support towards community-led initiatives, collaboratively partnered and co-branding of resources with intersex-led organisations thus elevating intersex voices and building capacity within the intersex community. Through their flagship role undergoing a comprehensive YellowTick training for staff and board members, and review of all their policies, programs, training and clinical services, QC has improved access to intersex affirmative services within their organisations. Their support developing the YellowTick initiative has improved intersex inclusion throughout the sector and continue to provided much need revenue streams for intersex community groups and members. Through their advocacy within QLD Health, QC helped secure seed funding to pilot an innovative peer-led psychosocial support program in partnership with intersex-led organisations.”
Statement by the winning nominee
Statement by Rebecca Reynolds, CEO the Queensland Council for LGBTI Health on being awarded the Darling Award:
“QC is proud to be the winner of “The Darling” 2021 – Intersex Ally Award, awarded by the Darlington Consortium of intersex-led and allied organisations, and community members working towards implementation of the Darlington Statement.
We welcome the trust that is placed in us as an organisation, from intersex-led organisations, to have the sometimes difficult conversations about our own power and privilege in the systems in which we work, live and play. We are committed to holding the spaces for the voices of people born with intersex variations to continue to shape, hold and guide their own futures in whatever shape that needs to take.
Sustainable change only happens when you are willing and able to sit with the discomfort that comes from power being reallocated. We commit to keep on trying to make this happen and to not walk away from that obligation to our communities even when it is the easier option.”
Congratulations and thank you to all the nominees for the 2021 Darling Award!
“A Gender Agenda (AGA) has supported legislative work to protect the rights and bodily autonomy of intersex people in the ACT, continues to employ from the intersex community to do intersex work, and is currently the only organisation offering funded regular peer support. Consistent efforts for the last four years that has resulted in a significant intersex membership within AGA. They produce resources and provide service referrals for intersex people in the ACT, as well as education for workplaces, education settings, and medical settings.”
“Working It Out (WIO) have affirmed the Darlington Statement undergone YellowTick Intersex Ally training and address priority areas identified in the Darlington Statement which have created opportunities for intersex-led organisations to create change in Tasmania, for example the Better Lives project – educating Midwives about variations to sex characteristics and how to support these community members and their families, which will make clinical spaces more inclusive to intersex people. WIO is truly an Ally of the intersex community.”
Thank you to all the nominees for their ongoing work supporting the intersex community and our human rights movement.
More information
This year’s award was commissioned from intersex artist Bonnie Hart.
Find out more about the Darlington Statement at https://darlington.org.au
To become an ally of the intersex human rights movement, affirm the Darlington Statement at https://darlington.org.au/affirmation/