06 December 2011 Media Release from LGBTI Health Alliance
The National LGBTI Health Alliance congratulates Tony Briffa on his election as Mayor of Hobsons Bay in Victoria. Briffa has been notable for his commitment to honouring diversity during his career as a councillor, working not just for LGBTI people, but also in the areas of disability, multiculturalism and youth.
Briffa was born with both male and female physical attributes, as a result of Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS). Even though he was genetically male, doctors decided he would be better off assigned as female, and he was subjected to a series of unnecessary examinations, surgeries and hormonal treatments during childhood and adolescence that left him physically and emotionally damaged.
As an adult he started hormone replacement therapy to reverse the medical treatment he had as a child. He is now very accepting of being biologically both male and female. Briffa’s courage and resilience have led to a productive and successful life, including advocacy on many issues. He is especially committed to stopping genital mutilation of intersex children, and is Vice-President of the Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group of Australia (AISSG of Australia) which is a member of the National LGBTI Health Alliance. Please see: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~aissg/.
Alliance Board Member, Gina Wilson, said, “We share Tony’s hope that his election will break down taboos associated with Intersex differences. Tony is a wonderful example of how intersex people can overcome the devastating and unnecessary medical treatment meted out to so many intersex children, and go on to become champions of human rights and cultural diversity for everyone.”
“Tony is an Inspiration and a role model for a whole generation of Intersex people, both those who have suffered early interventions and those who have come to their differences later in life.”
“The National LGBTI Health Alliance recognises the unique challenges faced by Intersex people, and has decided to make the health and wellbeing of Intersex Australians one of its top priorities,” Wilson said.
Contact:
Gina Wilson, Chair, Organisation Intersex International (Oii) Australia and Board Member, National LGBTI Health Alliance, 0418 290 336.
Paul Martin, Chair, National LGBTI Health Alliance, 0407 376 540, (07) 3017 1791
Sujay Kentlyn, Health Policy Officer, National LGBTI Health Alliance, 0417 624 749; 02 8568 1126
