Jeff Cagandahan is a prominent

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

intersex Intersex people are individuals born with any of several sex characteristics including chromosome patterns, gonads, or genitals that, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, "do not fit typical bina ...

man and

intersex human rights Intersex people are born with sex characteristics, such as chromosomes, gonads, or genitals, that, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, "do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies." Intersex peop ...

activist. Raised female and diagnosed with

congenital adrenal hyperplasia Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of autosomal recessive disorders characterized by impaired cortisol synthesis. It results from the deficiency of one of the five enzymes required for the synthesis of cortisol in the adrenal cortex. ...

, Cagandahan successfully petitioned the Philippine courts to change name and sex markers, becoming the first person to win such a case.

Early life

While observed as female at birth, as Cagandahan grew, male characteristics developed, causing discomfort and experiences of stigma at school and work. Cagandahan failed to develop breasts or menstruate, and male characteristics dominated. He graduated with a Bachelor in Physical Education and became a teacher. He found information about

while reading in his workplace library, sought a diagnosis and received one at the Philippine General Hospital at age 22.

Republic v. Jennifer B. Cagandahan

Due to embarrassment and discrimination, Cagandahan sought to amend the sex in his birth certificate. Cagandahan filed a petition for a correction to his birth certificate on December 11, 2003, later presenting medical testimony in support of the petition. The petition was granted on January 12, 2005. The case was appealed by the Office of the Solicitor General, on the basis that court rules were not complied with, and the statement that congenital adrenal hyperplasia did not make Cagandahan male. On September 12, 2008, the

Supreme Court of the Philippines The Supreme Court ( fil, Kataas-taasang Hukuman; colloquially referred to as the ''Korte Suprema'' lso used in formal writing is the highest court in the Philippines. The Supreme Court was established by the Second Philippine Commission on Ju ...

approved a correction to his birth certificate, including a change of gender and a change of name. The Supreme Court opined that he had "allowed 'nature to take its course' and had not interfered with what 'he was born with'" but also accepted a role for self-determination. The court opined: The court had previously rejected attempts to recognize the gender of transgender persons. The case made Cagandahan the first Filipino legally permitted to change name and gender markers.

Activism

Cagandahan became an advocate as a "mission to help others". He promotes intersex community development in the Philippines, stating that intersex people are not cursed and "should not be ashamed of who they are". He has also called for a "broadening" of the LGBT community, which "presupposes their inclusion, and yet fails to recognize their existence by adding them in the 'rainbow acronym'". He states that intersex people in the Philippines face specific issues, including the affordability of medication and healthcare, lack of information, and lack of acceptance. Cagandahan has helped to create a national intersex organization, Intersex Philippines, and also participated in the Asian Intersex Forum in 2018 which established

Intersex Asia Intersex Asia is a pan-Asian intersex human rights organization, established in 2018 and registered in Taiwan. History Intersex Asia was established at the First Asian Intersex Forum on February 10, 2018, in Bangkok, Thailand. The forum brough ...

. He is currently a board member of Intersex Asia. Cagandahan organized the 1st Philippines National Intersex Forum in November 2019 supported by Intersex Asia and COC Nederland.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cagandahan, Jeff Living people Intersex rights activists Intersex rights in the Philippines Intersex men Filipino LGBT people Filipino schoolteachers People from Laguna (province) 1981 births