In June 2024, the article “Analysing Intersex Rights Narratives in Spain” was published in the journal Sexualities. Written by Lucas Platero and Sveta Solntseva, the article examines how significant legislative changes for intersex people have been implemented in Spain over the last decade, integrated into both state and regional LGBTI+ laws. Based on Carol Bacchi’s theories on the representation of public issues, the article analyzes how intersex rights are represented in Spain and questions some of the preconceived notions present in current political debates.
The analysis of the main discourses of the actors involved in intersex debates between 2018 and 2023 identified two predominant discursive representations: (1) that people’s sex is binary by nature; and (2) that intersexuality is merely evidence of bodily diversity, a narrative linked to debates on gender self-determination and the new state LGBTI+ law approved in 2023. These representations have embodied and tangible consequences for intersex people, who are often subjected to non-consensual, irreversible medical interventions that potentially have lifelong unwanted effects. Despite the persistent pathologization of intersex bodies, which continues despite new legislation, the changes occurring in the legislation, including the emergence of new intersex activism and a series of inclusive policies for intersex people, indicate a significant advancement in intersex rights in Spain.