Intersex Activist and Founder of the Intersex Society of Zambia, Mphatso Sakala, was born with some features of both gender, but he identifies as a man.
He disclosed in an interview on SVTV Africa that he was stuck between genders, and doctors could not fully identify him as a male or female due to some characteristics he possesses. According to Mphatso, his parents decided to raise him as a female because it was safer.
Mphatso shared some of his features that makes him an ‘intersex.’ He mentioned that he possesses both ovarian (found in women) and testicular (found in men) tissues. Also, he began developing breasts as he aged.
“In the past, they measured the length of the child’s penis. If it didn’t pass a certain length, it was considered a clitoris. That is what happened in my case. It was considered a large clitoris.
I started developing breasts, so I have breast tissues. Internally, I have a testicle on the right and an ovary on the side. So I’m born with male and female sex characteristics, so I can’t be classified as a male or female,” he explained.
Speaking on how Mphatso identifies himself, he noted that in terms of gender and physicality, he is considered a man. However, biologically, he is intersex.
Mphatso noted that he had no idea about his condition because his parents raised him as a female and only found out during his teenage years.
“Doctors failed to determine my gender, and I had to be identified in society, so my parents chose to raise me as a female. I asked them why they chose female, and they said they felt I would be safer as a female because society protects the girl child,” Mphatso said.
Intersex Society of Zambia is an NGO that encourages the recognition and protection of the rights of intersex persons in Zambia. Mphatso Sakala is the head of the organisation.
Kindly watch the full interview below;
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