To the editor:

Most of us can check the box for male or female easily.

However, there are babies born worldwide with sex characteristics (including genitals, gonads, and chromosome patterns) that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies. Today this is called an “Intersex baby,” and at one time, it was called “Hermaphrodite.”

“Intersex baby” is an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of natural bodily variations.

One in every 1,500-2,000 babies born is Intersex, which is as common as having red hair (1%-2%). Intersex babies make up 1.75 of the population. This number is considered low. For many years doctors were required to have “the sex” on the certificate, so a choice had to be made, and questionable surgeries were performed. Thank God this practice ended.

As you can imagine, not knowing, parents often made the incorrect choice.

Intersex takes place at conception.

Lisa Haney

Marshall