Me and My Gender Diversity: Genderqueer, Intersex, and Male.

Art by Damien Marie AtHope

A bit about my Gender and how it has affected my life.

My gender is intersex–genderqueer and present as male. I use He or Him. Though I feel more like they or them. I always felt odd but did not know I was intersex. My parents knew and kept it hidden from me hoping I would just pass as male, normal. I am not totally, normal. And they always treated me as if I was wrong, something not right. I just never knew why other than being told over and over that I was too dramatic and needed to just act normal, in other words, act, not be me.

I had a friend who thought I was gay or something, well it was the or something, in my case, as I am not homosexual but a gynosexual is attracted to women, though as my gender involved intersex I don’t really apply to the term heterosexual. I was told over an over I like too many girly things or things others assess as gay.

I was not sure what was “wrong” with me as I was not gay or trans but something felt very different and gave up trying to understand and just tried hard to be only male acting but always was a little different, eventually just accepting that I would never understand and just had to be me. I first actually found out I was intersex after going the Dr. He checked my testosterone at around 23 years old telling me I had less testosterone than most women, and how did I not already know I was intersex.

I was outraged at first as I was not ready to be told I was not just a cis male and I felt shameful as if I was somehow broken and wanted to hide. I later started looking into my gender in college learning there was different genders than just only female or male. The first time I read the description of the gender: “genderqueer” I cried as for the first time in my life someone understood and I felt a little more normal.

I have a few differences my very low testosterone, my female nipples, hidden penis, and had Severe hypospadias, (which my parents had surgically repaired without my consent and never explained it truly to me) a very mild form of intersex (under-virilization of a genetic male). Hypospadias is the most common anomaly of the penis affecting approximately one in 250 males born.

I am proud of who I am now and speak about it often to try and be that similar voice saying even if you are different that is good that one can be proud to be intersex or genderqueer and have others that understand. Often do still feel alone because of my gender, like I don’t always fit in as I am like 90% biologically male 10 % intersex but mentally like both a 60% male and a 40% female. It’s hard as very few people admit to being intersex like me. So it often feels like there are very few people that get me and I feel I don’t know how to belong most places as my gender is different compared to many people or that many people want me to fit what they expect of me.

I am mildly Intersex and Genderqueer mentally but it should be understood that I am not bi or gay. I am as well as an Ally for others as well in the LGBTQI+ community.

When I told my mom that I was changing my middle name to a female name “Marie” she was not at all happy as a Christian fanatic. I told her I feel male and some female so I wanted my full name to express this. Shy said how will people tell that you are a man. I said I don’t care what others think and if they don’t see me as just a man GOOD, as I feel genderqueer thus a little male and female. Then she said but you are not gay, what if people think you are gay?

I said, SO what is wrong with being gay I know and like lots of gay people. I may not be gay, mom but as gay is not a bad thing I don’t feel bad as you think I should. Also if people think I am gay for my middle name being female. She still expressed that she did not like what I did. I actually was surprised she took it so bad forgetting how bigoted religious people can be.

Art by Damien Marie AtHope

Art by Damien Marie AtHope

What is intersex?

(an explanation from the Intersex Society of North America)

“Intersex” is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male. For example, a person might be born appearing to be female on the outside, but having mostly male-typical anatomy on the inside. Or a person may be born with genitals that seem to be in-between the usual male and female types—for example, a girl may be born with a noticeably large clitoris, or lacking a vaginal opening, or a boy may be born with a notably small penis, or with a scrotum that is divided so that it has formed more like labia. Or a person may be born with mosaic genetics, so that some of her cells have XX chromosomes and some of them have XY.” Ref

“Though we speak of intersex as an inborn condition, intersex anatomy doesn’t always show up at birth. Sometimes a person isn’t found to have intersex anatomy until she or he reaches the age of puberty, or finds himself an infertile adult, or dies of old age and is autopsied. Some people live and die with intersex anatomy without anyone (including themselves) ever knowing. Which variations of sexual anatomy count as intersex? In practice, different people have different answers to that question. That’s not surprising, because intersex isn’t a discreet or natural category.” Ref

“What does this mean? Intersex is a socially constructed category that reflects real biological variation. To better explain this, we can liken the sex spectrum to the color spectrum. There’s no question that in nature there are different wavelengths that translate into colors most of us see as red, blue, orange, yellow. But the decision to distinguish, say, between orange and red-orange is made only when we need it—like when we’re asking for a particular paint color. Sometimes social necessity leads us to make color distinctions that otherwise would seem incorrect or irrational, as, for instance, when we call certain people “black” or “white” when they’re not especially black or white as we would otherwise use the terms.” Ref

“In the same way, nature presents us with sex anatomy spectrums. Breasts, penises, clitorises, scrotums, labia, gonads—all of these vary in size and shape and morphology. So-called “sex” chromosomes can vary quite a bit, too. But in human cultures, sex categories get simplified into male, female, and sometimes intersex, in order to simplify social interactions, express what we know and feel, and maintain order.” Ref

“So, nature doesn’t decide where the category of “male” ends and the category of “intersex” begins, or where the category of “intersex” ends and the category of “female” begins. Humans decide. Humans (today, typically doctors) decide how small a penis has to be, or how unusual a combination of parts has to be, before it counts as intersex. Humans decide whether a person with XXY chromosomes or XY chromosomes and androgen insensitivity will count as intersex.” Ref

What is Genderqueer?

Genderqueer: denoting or relating to a person who does not subscribe to conventional gender distinctions but identifies with neither, both, or a combination of male and female genders. Ref

What is Gynosexual?

A gynosexual is anyone who has sexual feelings towards a woman. Derived from the Greek word gyno which means “female/woman” and the Latin word sexualis meaning “relating to sex,” the term gynosexual can be useful when describing the sexual orientation of an individual with a non-binary gender identity. Ref

Sexual Orientation for the Genderqueer Person

This is my “BASIC INFORMATION” from Facebook

Let me give you a little more background on me if you are interested in understanding me more.

I am mildly intersex meaning I have biological and physical differences.

Few of the obvious physical ones are I have female size nipples (Gynaecomastia), hidden penis, and a seemingly non-closed internal pelvic opening. Buried penis (also known as a hidden penis) is for me a congenital that was made worse due to being over weight, in which my penis is completely hidden below the surface of the skin when not turned on and erect. At birth, the underside of my penis had a small opening like a pseudo very small vagina like opening which was surgically closed at birth. Therefore, I had “severe hypospadias” of my penis or specifically “Penile/urethral hyospadia”: Link

Severe hypospadias a very mild form of intersex (under-virilization of a genetic male). Hypospadias is the most common anomaly of the penis affecting approximately one in 250 males born.

Biologically, I had my testosterone checked and it is so low that it is less than some women. Mentally and emotionally, I am often more attracted to feminine things such as watching a play than playing sports, being creative than working on a car. I enjoy cooking, shopping, clothes styalist, decorating, getting manicure and pedicures, painting my nails, I have tattooed eye liner as well, and when around a group of women, I often forget I am male. I have always felt offended when women are put down and not valued since it feels like it is against me.

Even in one of my counseling courses in a brick school for my bachelors, the class was 20 students and I did not realize I was the only male until the professor asked me how does it feel to be the only male in class? I actually had to look around since I did not believe I was the only male since I felt so comfortable. But one can’t prove to others how they feel or should they have to.

I don’t believe everyone who is genderqueer has to have proof of gender diversity.

But I will say with an honest heart that I have felt both male and female my whole life. To simply call myself a man seems to deny something inside. I use to be ashamed that I had two spirits but after realizing how relatively common it is I am now ok and realize that I am not that strange. I am not the only one.

According to Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus (2008), everyone starts out basically as a female and it takes three processes to make a male. First are defeminizing androgens, then masculinizing androgens, and then testosterone.

Actually, genetics differences are quite common: one in every 1500 males and one in every 5000 females has a genetic gender difference which is more than people with red hair in the world. That is 3 times more men than women so I am in good company.

So where I stand is I am a genderqueer man but am heterosexual not gay or bi or You could say I am a gynesexual which means one born only attracted sexually to women (for me only Cis women) and usually who are also feminine expressing.

Because gynesexual means one born only attracted to women this would mean it could be applied to several different genders from straight men, to someone intersex even lesbian women.

Why add gynesexual? Because just telling you “I’m heterosexual” does not truly answer the question. Especially since “hetero” means different and there are different sexes than just male and female that have been documented (yes all the intersexes). So which sex different from your own are you attracted to from an intersex person could be not rightly explained with saying “I’m heterosexual”.

It is better to use a word that directly states “I’m attracted to women”. Not only does “Gynesexual” do this but it also shows that straight men and lesbians are the same…which is part of the problem with people treating gays with such bigotry. They don’t realize they have relatively the same sexual orientation as them.

I see myself as a “intersex-genderqueer-male,” some may still say I don’t even know what that means please explain. Ok, well intersex is a spectrum of sex/gender between male and female. And genderqueer for me is mental thinking or internalize gender or outside gender expressing that is not of one gender or is gender fluid between them or more one gender at one time and another at another time.

I often hear: “Damien, I don’t like labels.”

Well, you seem to mean you dont like my chosen labels and you not liking labels is your preference, it doesn’t remove the reality of the clarification or what the definition explains. And, you not liking something just like any personal choice, only relates to your personal choice. In other words, it’s like someone not liking a flavor of ice cream, that dislike does not remove the reality of the flavor being good for someone else.

But to address or expose the real issue as it most often is when someone states “I don’t like labels” after I just expressed or used a label, they are actually not being honest they are trying to be controlling. See, they are not really stating some personal preference they hold so we know how they see things. Instead what they are really doing is they are trying to be subversive, as in they are trying to circumvent our rights to self-define with a label they don’t like or agree with.

Thus, they are trying to police what labels can be used and when according to them. However, what is actually distasteful is when people attempt to limit me, confine me or put me down with a label, especially an inaccurate or abusive label I don’t fit or deserve. While I may have a high tolerance for those who may be uninformed or ignorant, I tend to likewise have a low tolerance for those who choose to be stupid or seem to champion unintelligence.

One has fully become themselves authentically, when they are no longer trying to fit the limitations others give or force upon them. This resistance or rejection of what one is not, should come less from some aggression towards them, than from a true act of loving oneself.

Sex, Gender, and Sexuality: It’s Complicated

Sex redefined: The idea of two sexes is simplistic. Biologists now think there is a wider spectrum

Personhood Explored

Art by Damien Marie AtHope

• “The term “inconspicuous penis” could be a short penile shaft, that is, micropenis, or more commonly due to abnormalities of the investing structures. The latter group is further divided as buried penis, webbed penis, and trapped penis.” ref
• “The term “micropenis” is most often used medically when the rest of the penis, scrotum, and perineum are without ambiguity, such as hypospadias. Of the abnormal conditions associated with micropenis, most are conditions of reduced prenatal androgen production or effect, such as abnormal testicular development (testicular dysgenesis), Klinefelter syndrome, Leydig cell hypoplasia, specific defects of testosterone or dihydrotestosterone synthesis (17,20-lyase deficiency, 5α-reductase deficiency), androgen insensitivity syndromes, inadequate pituitary stimulation (gonadotropin deficiency), and other forms of congenital hypogonadism. Micropenis can also occur as part of many genetic malformation syndromes that do not involve the sex chromosomes.” ref
• “The term “Intersex” involves “Intersex people” who are individuals born with any of several sex characteristics including chromosome patterns, gonads, or genitals that, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, “do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies”. Though the range of atypical sex characteristics may be obvious from birth through the presence of physically ambiguous genitalia, in other instances, atypical characteristics may go unnoticed, presenting as ambiguous internal reproductive organs or atypical chromosomes that may remain unknown to an individual all of their life. The number of births with ambiguous genitals is in the range of 0.02% to 0.05%. Other conditions involve atypical chromosomes, gonads, or hormones. Some persons may be assigned and raised as a girl or boy but then identify with another gender later in life, while most continue to identify with their assigned sex. The number of births where the baby is intersex has been reported differently depending on who reports and which definition of intersex is used.” ref

Art by Damien Marie AtHope

“These are not the only choices just a rough explanation to broaden people’s thinking past the limited conceptions many people may have.”

Gender Identity:

. Woman / Female 

. Bi-gender/Genderqueer/Gender-Fluid/Non-Binary

. Man / Male

Love Identity:

. Dismissing Attachment

. Anxious Attachment

. Secure Attachment

Gender Expression:

. Feminine

. Androgynous/Non-Binary

. Masculine

Style Expression:

. Sport/Relax

. Conventional

. Non-Conventional

Biological/Assigned Sex:

. Female

. Intersex/Trans

. Male

Sex Desire:

. Asexual/Demisexual

. Low

. High

Sexual Orientation:

. Heterosexual

. Bisexual/Pansexual/Gynesexual/Androsexual/Skoliosexual

. Homosexual

Relationship Orientation:

. Single/No-Primary

. Monogamous

. Non-Monogamous

Read more on this at my blog: Personhood Explored

Religion teaches male and female only, science knows that is wrong there is more diversity of gender in reality.

Female, Male & Intersex at a Glance

“Biological sex is our anatomy as female, male, or intersex.
It includes our internal and external sex organs, chromosomes, and hormones. Some people are intersex rather than female or male.
Our biological sex is how we are defined as female, male, or intersex. It describes our internal and external bodies — including our sexual and reproductive anatomy, our genetic makeup, and our hormones.”
– See more at: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sexual-orientation-gender/female-male-intersex

Countries Expand Recognition For Alternative ‘Intersex’ Gender

How common is intersex?

Between XX and XY: Intersexuality and the Myth of Two Sexes Hardcover – July 1, 2009, by Gerald N. Callahan PhD (Author) 3.4 out of 5 stars 12 customer reviews

Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly

Combining passion with current scientific information, Callahan, an immunologist/pathologist at Colorado State University, explains why our conception of two sexes is more a social than a biological construct. He argues that there are no simple, foolproof ways to determine sex. For example chromosomal structure, XX for females and XY for males, is not fully predictive because of various genetic disorders that can play a larger role. Similarly, genitalia can be quite varied and represent a continuum of difference rather than two discrete points.

Callahan does a good job of exploring intersex individuals, who are neither male nor female, and argues that they need to be accepted for what they are and not viewed as defective. Further, he provides provocative evidence that surgical gender reconstruction is often unsuccessful. Although Callahan attempts to make the case that some non-Western societies have a less bipolar view of gender, his abbreviated presentation is not very convincing. He is, however, persuasive that better understanding of and respect for sex and gender variability would be far healthier for the 65,000-plus intersex people born each year and society in general. (July) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Other Reviews

“Callahan does a good job of exploring intersex individuals, who are neither male nor female, and argues that they need to be accepted for what they are and not viewed as defective.”  —Publishers Weekly

“Immunologist Callahan takes a fascinating look at the biology and human experience of intersexuality, a state in between male and female.”  —Discover Magazine

“Callahan’s writing style is both accessible and engaging; it reads more like creative non-fiction, a la Malcolm Gladwell.”  —Ms. Magazine

“This is a fascinating, easily understandable journey into why we are born male or female and examines our age-old obsession with sex.”  —Fort Collins Coloradoan

“There are lots of interesting nuggets here—for example, Callahan’s description of biological sex as a spectrum, not a binary system.”  —Double X

“The book is really beautifully written, highly accessible, and visionary in its own right.”  —Feministing

“This book takes readers through an alphabet of gender and gender variations. Callahan shows readers that rather than either/or scenarios, there have always been variations; his book shatters our society’s take on pink and blue.”  —Advocate.com

Blurred lines: Human sex chromosome swapping occurs more often than previously thought

It turns out that the rigid “line in the sand” over which the human sex chromosomes — the Y and X — go to avoid crossing over is a bit blurrier than previously thought. Contrary to the current scientific consensus, Arizona State University assistant professor Melissa Wilson Sayres has led a research team that has shown that X and Y DNA swapping may occur much more often. And this promiscuous swapping, may in turn, aid in our understanding of human history and diversity, health and disease, as well as blur rigid chromosomal interpretations of sexual identity.

Some may wonder is transgender possibly connected to intersex?

Well, there is a biological basis for transgender identity, and while there may be some who are both intersex and transgender, it is not something that is always together, in fact, it is likely not even commonly together. To read more on this checkout, What’s the difference between being transgender or transsexual and having an intersex condition?

Intersex is part of my gender and biological sex. I am intersex and genderqueer (having the brain of both sexes) but feel also mostly male.

I posted that I was “Intersex” on facebook and this is just some of the responses:

*What’s that?

*That’s Bruce Jenner shit

*Thought that was transgender.

*Biologically intersex?

*I’ll pass thank u very much

*No that’s not transgender. It’s having the brain of both sexes.

*Challenger, How many genders? 2, to, too, or two?

Damien Marie AtHope – There are more than just two genders

*Challenger, No there are not. Transsexualism dose exist, although they identify as either male or female.

Damien Marie AtHope – I am intersex and yes it is scientific.

*Challenger, There’s very little in our genetic makeup that makes us different than a banana. Biologically, it’s possible to have more male or female chromosomes but, that case study clearly identified as being female. Have you ever meet anyone over 30 who’s got their shit together, and is not an emotionally unstable attention whore who identifies as being “gender fluid”? Because I have not.

Damien Marie AtHope – My gender is intersex-genderqueer-male. I can be gender fluid, over 30 and I have most of my shit together. So now you have met me.

*Challenger, That just makes me question your mental stability.

Damien Marie AtHope – Why would you try to insinuate that just my being born with a different gender is something that has a mental health issues?

*Challenger, Because it’s delusional. You’re a male, I know that you really want to be something different, but your not.

Damien Marie AtHope – I just gave you 4 scientific research articles and you still don’t get it, you are the one denying science, not me.

*Challenger, There are lots of non-biological male’s and females out there. Gender fluid doesn’t exist. Also, those links you gave are hardly reliable sources.

Damien Marie AtHope – You are starting opinion without the scientific support.

*Challenger, You’re posting a bunch of junk science.

Damien Marie AtHope – What source do you want?

*Challenger, A reputable source.

I (Damien Marie AtHope) gave three research studies.

*Challenger, Give me a chance to read some of these articles and I’ll let you know if it changes my opinion.

Damien Marie AtHope – Ok, I appreciate your willingness to look.

The Third Gender : Transsexuals are illuminating the biology and psychology of sex—and revealing just how diverse the human species really is By Jesse Bering

Is There Something Unique about the Transgender Brain? Imaging studies and other research suggest that there is a biological basis for transgender identity.

When a Person Is Neither XX nor XY: A Q&A with Geneticist Eric Vilain: Eric Vilain discusses the biology and politics of mixed-sex individuals, arguing that terms such as “hermaphrodite” and “intersex” are vague and hurtful.

Sex redefined: The idea of two sexes is simplistic. Biologists now think there is a wider spectrum than that.

The spectrum of sex development: Eric Vilain and the intersex controversy. The geneticist built a career studying aspects of sex that make some people uncomfortable. Now things are getting uncomfortable for him.

Psychological research and intersex/DSD: recent developments and future directions.

A long-term outcome study of intersex conditions.

Between XX and XY : intersexuality and the myth of two sexes / Gerald N. Callahan.

Intersex: is a group of conditions where there is a discrepancy between the external genitals and the internal genitals (the testes and ovaries).

What is intersex? “Intersex” is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male.

The New Science of Sex and Gender – Scientific American – To varying extents, many of us are biological hybrids on a male-female continuum.

US proposal for defining gender has no basis in science – Nature.com – A move to classify people on the basis of anatomy or genetics should be abandoned.

Lastly, I know I am intersex to some amount.

I have testes that do not produce as much testosterone as usual (my testosterone is lower than most women as told to me from a Urologist). A shortage of testosterone can lead to delayed or incomplete puberty, breast enlargement (I had a delayed puberty, large female size nipples, and some breast enlargement), and infertility. Some affected individuals like me also have genital differences including, the opening of the urethra on the underside of the penis (hypospadias), or an unusually small penis (I had hypospadias and a hidden penis 0.0” (showing) when not hard and 5.5” when turned on. Older children and adults with Klinefelter syndrome tend to be taller than their peers (I was much taller than almost all of my peers).

Affected individuals typically have testes that do not produce as much testosterone as usual. Testosterone is the hormone that directs male sexual development before birth and during puberty. A shortage of testosterone can lead to delayed or incomplete puberty, breast enlargement (gynecomastia), reduced facial and body hair, and an inability to have biological children (infertility).

Some affected individuals also have genital differences including undescended testes (cryptorchidism), the opening of the urethra on the underside of the penis (hypospadias), or an unusually small penis (micropenis). ref

Most people have 46 chromosomes. Chromosomes contain all of your genes and DNA, the building blocks of the body. The 2 sex chromosomes (X and Y) determine if you become a boy or a girl. Girls normally have 2 X chromosomes. Boys normally have 1 X and 1 Y chromosome.

Intersex (info from medlineplus.gov)

“Intersex, is a group of conditions where there is a discrepancy between the external genitals and the internal genitals (the testes and ovaries). The older term for this condition is hermaphroditism. Although the older terms are still included in this article for reference, they have been replaced by most experts, patients, and families. Increasingly, this group of conditions is being called disorders of sex development (DSDs).” ref

Causes

Intersex can be divided into 4 categories:

46, XX intersex

46, XY intersex

True gonadal intersex

Complex or undetermined intersex

Each one is discussed in more detail below. Note: In many children, the cause of intersex may remain undetermined, even with modern diagnostic techniques. ref

46, XX INTERSEX

“The person has the chromosomes of a woman, the ovaries of a woman, but external (outside) genitals that appear male. This most often is the result of a female fetus having been exposed to excess male hormones before birth. The labia (“lips” or folds of skin of the external female genitals) fuse, and the clitoris enlarges to appear like a penis. In most cases, this person has a normal uterus and fallopian tubes. This condition is also called 46, XX with virilization. It used to be called female pseudohermaphroditism. There are several possible causes:

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (the most common cause). Male hormones (such as testosterone) taken or encountered by the mother during pregnancy. Male hormone-producing tumors in the mother: These are most often ovarian tumors. Mothers who have children with 46, XX intersex should be checked unless there is another clear cause.” ref

“Aromatase deficiency: This one may not be noticeable until puberty. Aromatase is an enzyme that normally converts male hormones to female hormones. Too much aromatase activity can lead to excess estrogen (female hormone); too little to 46, XX intersex. At puberty, these XX children, who had been raised as girls, may begin to take on male characteristics.” ref

46, XY INTERSEX

“The person has the chromosomes of a man, but the external genitals are incompletely formed, ambiguous, or clearly female. Internally, testes may be normal, malformed, or absent. This condition is also called 46, XY with undervirilization. It used to be called male pseudohermaphroditism. Formation of normal male external genitals depends on the appropriate balance between male and female hormones. Therefore, it requires the adequate production and function of male hormones. 46, XY intersex has many possible causes:

Problems with the testes: The testes normally produce male hormones. If the testes do not form properly, it will lead to undervirilization. There are a number of possible causes for this, including XY pure gonadal dysgenesis.” ref

“Problems with testosterone formation: Testosterone is formed through a series of steps. Each of these steps requires a different enzyme. Deficiencies in any of these enzymes can result in inadequate testosterone and produce a different syndrome of 46, XY intersex. Different types of congenital adrenal hyperplasia can fall in this category. Problems with using testosterone: Some people have normal testes and make adequate amounts of testosterone, but still have 46, XY intersex due to conditions such as 5-alpha-reductase deficiency or androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS).” ref

“People with 5-alpha-reductase deficiency lack the enzyme needed to convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). There are at least 5 different types of 5-alpha-reductase deficiency. Some of the babies have normal male genitalia, some have normal female genitalia, and many have something in between. Most change to external male genitalia around the time of puberty. AIS is the most common cause of 46, XY intersex. It has also been called testicular feminization. Here, the hormones are all normal, but the receptors to male hormones don’t function properly. There are over 150 different defects that have been identified so far, and each causes a different type of AIS.” ref

TRUE GONADAL INTERSEX

“The person must have both ovarian and testicular tissue. This may be in the same gonad (an ovotestis), or the person might have 1 ovary and 1 testis. The person may have XX chromosomes, XY chromosomes, or both. The external genitals may be ambiguous or may appear to be female or male. This condition used to be called true hermaphroditism. In most people with true gonadal intersex, the underlying cause is unknown, although in some animal studies it has been linked to exposure to common agricultural pesticides.” ref

COMPLEX OR UNDETERMINED INTERSEX DISORDERS OF SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT

“Many chromosome configurations other than simple 46, XX or 46, XY can result in disorders of sex development. These include 45, XO (only one X chromosome), and 47, XXY, 47, XXX – both cases have an extra sex chromosome, either an X or a Y. These disorders do not result in a condition where there is a discrepancy between internal and external genitalia. However, there may be problems with sex hormone levels, overall sexual development, and altered numbers of sex chromosomes.” ref

• Homophobia, Transphobia, and Genderqueerphobia Hurts Us All
• Transgender Support Challenge
• Gendered Thinking
• Personhood Explored
• About Damien
• Intersex human rights? No, not really!!!
• I am Pro-Body Sovereignty and Rights Against Genital Mutilation in Females, Males, as well as Intersex Persons.
• Intersex Me?
• Why is it Often Claimed that Gods have a Gender?
• Women were the focus of religion, from at least around 35,000 years ago, until 2,000 years ago?

Art by Damien Marie AtHope

Art by Damien Marie AtHope

Art by Damien Marie AtHope

Art by Damien Marie AtHope

Art by Damien Marie AtHope

While hallucinogens are associated with shamanism, it is alcohol that is associated with paganism.

The Atheist-Humanist-Leftist Revolutionaries Shows in the prehistory series:

Show one: Prehistory: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” the division of labor, power, rights, and recourses.

Show two: Pre-animism 300,000 years old and animism 100,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”

Show tree: Totemism 50,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”

Show four: Shamanism 30,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”

Show five: Paganism 12,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”

Show six: Emergence of hierarchy, sexism, slavery, and the new male god dominance: Paganism 7,000-5,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (Capitalism) (World War 0) Elite and their slaves!

Show seven: Paganism 5,000 years old: progressed organized religion and the state: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (Kings and the Rise of the State)

Show eight: Paganism 4,000 years old: Moralistic gods after the rise of Statism and often support Statism/Kings: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (First Moralistic gods, then the Origin time of Monotheism)

Prehistory: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” the division of labor, power, rights, and recourses: VIDEO

Pre-animism 300,000 years old and animism 100,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”: VIDEO

Totemism 50,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”: VIDEO

Shamanism 30,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”: VIDEO

Paganism 12,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (Pre-Capitalism): VIDEO

Paganism 7,000-5,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (Capitalism) (World War 0) Elite and their slaves: VIEDO

Paganism 5,000 years old: progressed organized religion and the state: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (Kings and the Rise of the State): VIEDO

Paganism 4,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (First Moralistic gods, then the Origin time of Monotheism): VIEDO

I do not hate simply because I challenge and expose myths or lies any more than others being thought of as loving simply because of the protection and hiding from challenge their favored myths or lies.

The truth is best championed in the sunlight of challenge.

An archaeologist once said to me “Damien religion and culture are very different”

My response, So are you saying that was always that way, such as would you say Native Americans’ cultures are separate from their religions? And do you think it always was the way you believe?

I had said that religion was a cultural product. That is still how I see it and there are other archaeologists that think close to me as well. Gods too are the myths of cultures that did not understand science or the world around them, seeing magic/supernatural everywhere.

I personally think there is a goddess and not enough evidence to support a male god at Çatalhöyük but if there was both a male and female god and goddess then I know the kind of gods they were like Proto-Indo-European mythology.

Art by Damien Marie AtHope

The “Atheist-Humanist-Leftist Revolutionaries”

Cory Johnston ☭ Ⓐ Atheist Leftist @Skepticallefty & I (Damien Marie AtHope) @AthopeMarie (my YouTube & related blog) are working jointly in atheist, antitheist, antireligionist, antifascist, anarchist, socialist, and humanist endeavors in our videos together, generally, every other Saturday.

Why Does Power Bring Responsibility?

Think, how often is it the powerless that start wars, oppress others, or commit genocide? So, I guess the question is to us all, to ask, how can power not carry responsibility in a humanity concept? I know I see the deep ethical responsibility that if there is power their must be a humanistic responsibility of ethical and empathic stewardship of that power. Will I be brave enough to be kind? Will I possess enough courage to be compassionate? Will my valor reached its height of empathy? I as everyone earns our justified respect by our actions, that are good, ethical, just, protecting, and kind. Do I have enough self-respect to put my love for humanity’s flushing, over being brought down by some of its bad actors? May we all be the ones doing good actions in the world, to help human flourishing.

I create the world I want to live in, striving for flourishing. Which is not a place but a positive potential involvement and promotion; a life of humanist goal precision. To master oneself, also means mastering positive prosocial behaviors needed for human flourishing. I may have lost a god myth as an atheist but I am happy to tell you my friend, it is exactly because of that, leaving the mental terrorizer, god belief that I truly regained my connected ethical as well as kind humanity.

Cory and I will talk about prehistory and theism, addressing the relevance to atheism, anarchism, and socialism.

At the same time of the rise of the male god 7,000 years ago was also the very time there was the rise of violence war, and clans to kingdoms, then empires, then states. It is all connected back to 7,000 years ago and it mover across the world.

Cory Johnston: https://damienmarieathope.com/2021/04/cory-johnston-mind-of-a-skeptical-leftist/?v=32aec8db952d  

The Mind of a Skeptical Leftist (YouTube)

Cory Johnston: Mind of a Skeptical Leftist @Skepticalcory

The Mind of a Skeptical Leftist By Cory Johnston:   “Promoting critical thinking, social justice, and left-wing politics by covering current events and talking to a variety of people. Cory Johnston has been thoughtfully talking to people and attempting to promote critical thinking, social justice, and left-wing politics.”

Cory Johnston ☭ Ⓐ @Skepticallefty Evidence-based atheist leftist (he/him) Producer, host, and co-host of 4 podcasts @skeptarchy @skpoliticspod and @AthopeMarie

http://anchor.fm/skepticalleft

He needs our support. We rise by helping each other.

Damien Marie AtHope (“At Hope”) Axiological Atheist, Anti-theist, Anti-religionist, Secular Humanist. Rationalist, Writer, Artist, Poet, Philosopher, Advocate, Activist, Psychology, and Armchair Archaeology/Anthropology/Historian.

Damien is interested in: Freedom, Liberty, Justice, Equality, Ethics, Humanism, Science, Atheism, Antiteism, Antireligionism, Ignosticism, Left-Libertarianism, Anarchism, Socialism, Mutualism, Axiology, Metaphysics, LGBTQI, Philosophy, Advocacy, Activism, Mental Health, Psychology, Archaeology, Social Work, Sexual Rights, Marriage Rights, Woman’s Rights, Gender Rights, Child Rights, Secular Rights, Race Equality, Ageism/Disability Equality, Etc. And a far-leftist, “Anarcho-Humanist.”

Art by Damien Marie AtHope

Art by Damien Marie AtHope

Damien Marie AtHope (Said as “At” “Hope”)/(Autodidact Polymath but not good at math):

Axiological Atheist, Anti-theist, Anti-religionist, Secular Humanist, Rationalist, Writer, Artist, Jeweler, Poet, “autodidact” Philosopher, schooled in Psychology, and “autodidact” Armchair Archaeology/Anthropology/Pre-Historian (Knowledgeable in the range of: 1 million to 5,000/4,000 years ago). I am an anarchist socialist politically. Reasons for or Types of Atheism

My Website, My Blog, My (free accesses) Patreon, My (free accesses) Patreon Blog & Short-writing or Quotes  My YouTube, Twitter: @AthopeMarie, and My Email: damien.marie.athope@gmail.com