Max Beck
Max Beck | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1966 |
| Died | January 12, 2008 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Known for | Intersex activism |
Max Beck (1966 – January 12, 2008[1]) was an American intersex advocate, who was active in the now-defunct Intersex Society of North America (ISNA). On October 26, 1996 in Boston, Beck participated in the first known public demonstration against human rights violations on intersex people. The event is now annually commemorated and recognized as Intersex Awareness Day.
Early life
Max Beck has described how his sex was not determinable at birth. Through testing it was discovered that he had mosaic XY/X0 chromosomes. His gonads were removed, and he was raised female, with yearly visits to endocrinologists and urologists.[2][3][4] Beck's genitals were described as not yet "finished".[5][3] Puberty "came in pill form", with a vaginoplasty, and he later attempted suicide.[5][2] He survived and later met Tamara Alexander, later his wife, and subsequently switched hormone treatment to testosterone. The couple married on February 12, 2000.[3] Alexander describes how the medical management of Beck's childhood is an "analogue for childhood sexual abuse",[4] where disclosure and living were a blessing.[6]
Activism
Beck appears in the 2005 documentary Middle Sexes: Redefining He and She. The film was nominated for a 2006 GLAAD Media Award. Beck's wife, Tamara Beck, appears in the film Intersexion, recalling their relationship.
Death
Beck died of Müllerian/vaginal cancer at age 42 in early 2008,[7] leaving his wife Tamara and two children.[7][8] In response to his death, Cheryl Chase stated that clinicians were unable to understand the "health issues of someone with his condition".[7] Beck is remembered as an eloquent and patient advocate, an honest and powerful truthteller.[9][8]
Selected bibliography
- Beck, Max (October 30, 2001). "My Life as an Intersexual". PBS. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
- Beck, Max (1997). "Hermaphrodites with Attitude Take to the Streets". Chrysalis. 2 (5). Intersex Society of North America: 45–50.
See also
References
- ↑ Bagby, Dyana (2008-01-25). "Max Beck's meaningful life". Southern Voice. Archived from the original on 2008-08-02. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Beck, Max (October 30, 2001). "My Life as an Intersexual". PBS. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Beck, Max (August 11, 2009). "My Life as an Intersexual". In Rebecca F. Plante; Lis M. Maurer (eds.). Doing Gender Diversity: Readings in Theory and Real-World Experience. Westview Press.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Alexander, Tamara (1997). "The Medical Management of Intersexed Children: An Analogue for Childhood Sexual Abuse".
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 White, Ryan L. (2013). "Preferred Private Parts: Importing Intersex Autonomy for M.C. v. Aaronson". Fordham International Law Journal. 37: 777.
- ↑ Alexander, Tamara (1999). "Silence=Death". In Dreger, Alice Domurat (ed.). Intersex in the Age of Ethics. University Publishing Group.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Cornwall, Susannah (April 8, 2016). Sex and Uncertainty in the Body of Christ: Intersex Conditions and Christian Theology. Routledge.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Dreger, Alice (February 4, 2008). "Bye, Max. (We already miss you.)". Retrieved 2017-01-09.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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