Expressing support for the recognition of October 26, 2025, as Intersex Awareness Day, and supporting the goals and ideals of Intersex Awareness Day.

Bill Number: H.Res. 827
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-10-24: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Last Updated: 2025-12-03T17:47:53Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This House Resolution (H. Res. 827) expresses the U.S. House of Representatives' support for recognizing October 26, 2025, as Intersex Awareness Day. It aims to honor the intersex community's history, raise public awareness about intersex variations (natural differences in physical sex characteristics like anatomy, hormones, or chromosomes that don't fit typical male or female categories), and promote goals like bodily autonomy, ending discrimination, and protecting against harmful medical practices.

Key Provisions

The resolution includes extensive background "Whereas" clauses detailing the history, prevalence, and challenges faced by intersex people, such as nonconsensual surgeries on infants. It then resolves the following:

Support for Intersex Awareness Day: Affirms the day's goals, marking the 1996 public demonstration by intersex advocates.
Encouragement of Observance: Urges the federal government, states, localities, nonprofits, schools, and community groups to hold programs and activities to educate the public, celebrate diversity, and empower intersex individuals.
Guidance for Healthcare and Education: Encourages doctors to provide respectful, competent care that prioritizes patient autonomy and self-determination; urges schools to teach about the intersex community and link families to support resources.
Promotion of Rights Globally: Calls on the U.S. government, states, international funders, and aid programs to focus on intersex health and human rights, aligning with efforts to end violence and discrimination based on sex characteristics.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This is a non-binding resolution, not a law that amends or creates statutes. It does not introduce new legal requirements but references and reinforces existing policies, such as:

Executive orders and memos under the Biden administration protecting LGBTQ+ and intersex rights.
Nondiscrimination rules under the Affordable Care Act (Section 1557) and Title IX (which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education).
Supreme Court reasoning in Bostock v. Clayton County (2020), which extends sex discrimination protections to traits like sex characteristics.

No direct changes are made; it builds on prior recognitions by agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of State.

Potential Impacts

On Government Agencies: May encourage federal agencies (e.g., Health and Human Services, State Department) to integrate intersex awareness into programs, training, and international aid, potentially leading to more supportive policies without mandating them. It aligns with recent reports and rules highlighting health disparities for intersex people.
On Citizens: Increases visibility for the intersex community (estimated at 1.7% or more of the population), potentially reducing stigma and promoting access to affirming healthcare and education. It highlights risks of early surgeries, which could influence parental and medical decisions toward delaying non-urgent procedures until the child can consent.
On International Relations: Supports U.S. leadership in global human rights, echoing UN resolutions and aid efforts to combat discrimination against intersex people worldwide, possibly strengthening alliances with countries addressing similar issues.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Intersex Individuals and Families: Primary beneficiaries, gaining recognition, resources, and advocacy against harmful practices like nonconsensual surgeries (often called "Intersex Genital Mutilation" by advocates).
Healthcare Providers: Doctors, pediatricians, and organizations (e.g., American Academy of Family Physicians) encouraged to adopt patient-centered care and avoid unnecessary interventions.
Educational Institutions: Schools and universities prompted to include intersex topics in curricula and support services.
Government and Nonprofits: Federal, state, and local entities, plus advocacy groups (e.g., those involved in the Equality Act), tasked with awareness activities and policy alignment.
Allies and Broader LGBTQ+ Community: Includes transgender advocates, as the resolution notes shared interests in autonomy, though it clarifies intersex is distinct from being transgender.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Reinforces that discrimination based on sex characteristics violates federal laws like Title VII (employment) and Title IX (education), per Bostock. It opposes nonconsensual medical interventions on minors, aligning with positions from medical bodies (e.g., World Professional Association for Transgender Health) and bar associations, but lacks enforcement power.
Constitutional: Emphasizes bodily autonomy and physical integrity as human rights, potentially invoking due process protections under the 14th Amendment against government-sanctioned harm. It critiques rigid binary definitions of sex as unscientific, which could inform challenges to policies erasing intersex existence.
Political: Signals bipartisan (though largely Democratic-led) congressional support for intersex rights amid broader LGBTQ+ debates. It contrasts recent attacks on transgender healthcare by noting harms to intersex people, and builds on White House actions, potentially influencing future legislation like the Equality Act. As a simple resolution, it requires only House passage for symbolic effect, referred to committees for review.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]

Cosponsors (20)

Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]

Recent Actions

2025-10-24: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-10-24: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-10-24: Submitted in House
2025-10-24: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

Expressing support for the recognition of October 26, 2025, as Intersex Awareness Day, and supporting the goals and ideals of Intersex Awareness Day. — issued 2025-10-24 — PDF (7 pages)