Earlier this year, Belgian model Hanne Gaby Odiele revealed she is intersex.

She explained that emotionally painful experience she had with surgery because as a young child she did not know or understand what was going on. Inspired by her own experiences Hanne has become an avid advocate for intersex youth, partnering up with interACT to stop abuses against children in this community.

As an advocate with interACT, Hanne strives to inform people about what it means to be intersex, a previously “taboo” topic of conversation. With this education, she is also working hard to end abuse of children who are forced into surgery without consent, all to make them “more” male or female.

Hanne said,

“Like so many others I’ve suffered physical and emotional harm because I was born with a body that isn’t clearly ‘male’ or ‘female.’ I’m proud to join interACT as we fight to stop unnecessary surgery and other harmful treatment on intersex kids.”

Hanne rightfully argues that children should be able to wait until they are old enough to make their own, informed decisions in regards to surgery.

To understand more about Hanne’s platform, check out the short videos she’s done with interACT:

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