Click to Book Pidgeon

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Click to Book Pidgeon 〰️

Pidgeon Pagonis, M.A. (Chicago, IL) has worked for over a decade as an intersex advocate, speaker, consultant, photographer and filmmaker to shed light on the human rights violations endured by intersex people. Their goal is to help end the non-consensual irreversible medical procedures meant to discipline unruly intersex bodies. Pidgeon’s accessible advocacy helps people complicate their preconceived binary notions about “biological differences”. Their work has been essential for those who want to show up for intersex people in their lives, but aren’t sure where to start.

Whether advancing the intersex cause as the co-founder of the Intersex Justice Project (IJP), co-producing viral informational videos, creating art that centers intersex voices, appearing on the cover of National Geographic “Gender Revolution” special issue or being honored as a LGBT Champion of Change in by the Obama White House, Pidgeon has staked out a place at the fore of debates on intersexuality. In 2020, IJP’s #EndIntersexSurgery campaign succeeded in getting Lurie Children’s to become the first hospital in the nation to apologize and halt surgeries. Their memoir Nobody Needs to Know was published in 2023 by Little A Press.

What is Intersex? Even though there are about as many intersex people as there are people with red hair, the term is not well understood. According to the Free & Equal Intersex Fact Sheet: Intersex people are born with sex characteristics that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies. Intersex is an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of natural bodily variations. In some cases, intersex traits are visible at birth while in others, they are not apparent until puberty or may not be physically apparent at all.

Intersex Justice Project’s Train Take Over Action on October 26, 2018 | Sarah-Ji Photography

Intersex Justice Project’s Train Take Over Action on October 26, 2018 | Sarah-Ji Photography

Testimonials

“Pidgeon Pagonis is a wonderful speaker weaving between critical theory, gender studies, queer theory and personal experiences to captivate audiences and prompt real debate. Pidgeon’s incredible generosity with the audience and prompts to collective discussion led to an important and memorable evening.” — Georgina Jackson, Director of Exhibitions & Publications at Mercer Union a centre for contemporary

“I loved Pidgeon’s presentation. They are authentic, relatable and engaging. Getting a room filled with 11th and 12th graders is no easy feat, but Pidgeon pulled it off with ease. I highly recommend Pidgeon to anyone looking to learn about being intersex, fitting-in and/or identity in general.” – Janah Bocio LCSW, Social Worker, The Churchill School & Center

“Pidgeon gave an engaging presentation for part of Portland State University’s Pride Month. We really enjoyed that Pidgeon discussed intersex topics in really thoughtful and dynamic ways, especially through showing their unique and powerful documentary.” – Grace Piper, student organizer, Portland State University

“Pidgeon gave the keynote address at our annual Lavender Graduation and Stonewall Awards, an event honoring LGBTQA students. The keynote was a beautiful blend of Pidgeon’s lived experience with injustice as an intersex person and the importance of finding solidarity in a community of resistance.” – Katy Weseman, LGBTQA Student Services Coordinator, DePaul University in Chicago

Book Pidgeon to Speak On:

  • Intersex: 101, history, activism, binaries & spectrums, and their films The Son I Never Had: Growing Up Intersex and A Normal Girl.

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