Oii, Organization Intersex International, was founded by Curtis E. Hinkle in 2003. Curtis was trained as a linguist in France and is fluent in several European languages. He felt that he should use this talent to help bring together intersex people from around the globe. Curtis felt that he could reach a critical mass of well-informed intersex activists by working together within many different countries. The idea worked well, and after he retired from the organization, talented intersex individuals from around the world have brought about many important changes on behalf of the intersex community. What started as a small idea from Curtis’ apartment in South Carolina has grown into a worldwide community that continues the legacy that he left to the intersex community.
Today Organization Intersex International (Oii) is a global advocacy and support group run by people with intersex traits. According to Milton Diamond, it is the world’s largest organization of intersex people. Oii was created to help intersex people be heard, including those who speak languages other than English. Intersex people have bodies that have sexual characteristics such as gonads, chromosomes, reproductive systems, and genitals that are not endosex male or female physiology. Please note: one is born endosex if not born intersex. From the start, Oii acknowledged intersex as a normal human Biological variation and rejected the terminology of disorder, as in Disorders of Sex Development (DSD), as well as no longer using the words syndrome and birth defect.
Oii realizes that intersex people, just like endosex people, can have any sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. This means some intersex people will identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, trans, straight, or other. This means Oii believes it is important to work together with LGBTQ+ organizations. The goal of Oii is to achieve equality and human rights for intersex people and end human rights violations against them. Particularly the practice of non-consensual genital surgeries on infants and minors. Most of all, Oii believes in the human right of intersex children to have self-determination of their gender identity, no matter what that might be, and regardless of their genitals or chromosomes.
Oii USA’s Volunteers
To keep Oii’s legacy going, several volunteers, with Curtis Hinkle’s blessing, have decided to bring OII USA back to life with the originally intended name. It is critically important that the United States Intersex people work better together, and on this site, you will find everyone together. If you did not see something that you feel needs added, please contact us. We will be happy to assist you.
Here is a favorite quote from Oii’s Founder, Curtis E. Hinkle:
What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. – Henry David Thoreau
Bridge Building for Intersex People, Our Families & Friends 