Intersex Day of Remembrance is a civil awareness day that aims to highlight issues that are faced by intersex people. Intersex people are those who are born with variations in sex characteristics, like chromosomes, genitals, or reproductive organs, that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies. They are often subjected to unfathomable discrimination and hate throughout their life. The observance of ​​Intersex Day of Remembrance aims to change this and increase awareness about how to be an ally to intersex people and how to support them.

As we observe Intersex Day of Remembrance 2025, here is everything you need to know about this day, how to celebrate Intersex Day of Remembrance and its significance.

Intersex Day of Remembrance Date, History

Intersex Day of Remembrance is an annual observance that is marked on November 8. The celebration marks the birthday of Herculine Barbin, a French intersex person whose memoirs were later published by Michel Foucault in Herculine Barbin: Being the Recently Discovered Memoirs of a Nineteenth-century French Hermaphrodite. The annual commemoration helps us to take initiative to understand what we can do to ensure the continued safety of intersex people and to give them an opportunity to just live their lives in peace. Intersex Meaning: What is Intersexuality? Can Intersex People Get Pregnant? Here's What You Should Know.

Significance of Intersex Day of Remembrance

The celebration of Intersex Day of Remembrance is a reminder of the violence, discrimination and pain that intersex people have been subjected to, for merely existing, it is a day to also give them the stage and be helpful and supportive allies to the intersex community worldwide. Navigating being an intersex person is riddled with several challenges and turmoils of their own. The societal pressures and discrimination only adds to this challenge. And the celebration of Intersex Day of Remembrance aims to highlight this and encourage more people to understand what an intersex person goes through, be more empathetic towards them and to create safe spaces where they can talk about their personal challenges.

It is important to note that Intersex Day of Remembrance is mainly observed in Europe and is different from the celebration of Intersex Awareness Day, which takes place on October 26 in English-speaking countries, particularly in North America. Both these observances hold immense importance in having open and honest conversations that help intersex people to open up about their challenges and the kind of support they need from us. We hope that this Intersex Day of Remembrance you choose to be an ally and offer a safe space for Intersex people.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 08, 2025 06:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).