One of Australia and New Zealand’s biggest banks has thrown its support behind the intersex community.

ANZ became the first major publicly listed company in Australia and New Zealand to back the statement the Darlington Statement.

The Darlington Statement is a community consensus by Australian and New Zealand intersex organisations that actively acknowledges the diversity within the intersex community.

ANZ’s LGBTIQ+ Pride Network recommended the bank affirm its support for intersex people.

‘We are proud to throw our support behind this community and encourage other organisations to support the Darlington Statement as we aim to build a more inclusive society,’ ANZ Chief Financial Officer and the Executive Sponsor of Pride network, Michelle Jablko.

What is intersex?

Intersex refers to people born with physical sex characteristics that do not fit medical and social norms for female or male bodies. Intersex variations are natural biological characteristics and are not a gender identity in themselves. It also does not refer to a person’s sexuality.

ANZ agreed with the priorities set out in the Darlington Statement. It also said it echoed calls by the intersex human rights movement to engage across legal, health, education, awareness and employment issues.

The bank has supported intersex people since 2016 when it launched its Intersex Inclusion & Awareness focus group. Since then it has run Intersex Awareness Day events. It also has delivered training and awareness programs to staff as part of wider diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Darlington Statement

Australian and New Zealand intersex advocates made history last year when they released the powerful Darlington Statement.

The statement identifies key priorities for intersex people. Some of these include; legal reform to recognise bodily autonomy, effective rights-based oversight of clinical decisions, alongside access to affirmative health care and the importance of peer support.

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