Are you intersex / do you have a variation in sex characteristics and live in Norway? We are inviting intersex people to a community meeting in Bergen! The meeting is an opportunity to meet other intersex people, share experiences and perspectives, and talk about what it is like to be intersex / have a variation in sex characteristics in Norway.

We want to create a space where intersex people can come together, connect and exchange experiences. We also want to hear your thoughts on what is important to intersex people in Norway, and what kinds of meeting places, information and support could be useful. We want the meeting to have a safe, confidential and inclusive framework.

At the meeting, we will be joined by Irene Kuzemko, Senior Capacity & Community Building Officer at OII Europe, an umbrella organisation for intersex organisations in Europe. Irene will present an overview of the intersex human rights movement in Europe and its goals, as well as share her experience in intersex community building. The meeting is organised as part of the project “Intersex i Norge” by KUN – Centre for Equality in Western Norway and FRI – The Norwegian Organization for Sexual and Gender Diversity. The project has an advisory committee of intersex persons who assists in shaping the programme.

In the project, we use intersex as an umbrella term for people born with sex characteristics – such as reproductive organs, hormonal structures and/or levels, or chromosomal patterns – that do not fit typical medical definitions of male or female bodies. You do not need a diagnosis to participate, nor do you need to identify with the term “intersex”, but you do need to be a part of the intersex / variation in sex characteristics umbrella.

We understand that anonymity and privacy may be particularly important when meeting other intersex people. You do not need to use your legal name or your full name when participating, and we ask everyone attending to respect each other’s privacy and not share other participants’ names, stories or personal information outside the meeting. The meeting room is located on the second floor, with no visibility from the street or from neighbouring buildings, so participants will not be visible to people passing by. The address will only be shared with registered participants. You are also welcome to contact us beforehand if you have any concerns about privacy or anonymity.

You do not need any previous experience with activism, organisations or community work. There is no expectation that you share personal or medical experiences. You decide what you want to share, and you are also very welcome to simply listen, meet others and be part of the conversation.

Intersex community meeting – in Bergen 
When: Sunday 25 October 2026, 12:00–16:00
Where: Bergen (address will be shared only with participants)
Who: Intersex people / people with variations in sex characteristics
Language: English
Participation: Free

If you are interested in joining, please fill in the registration form!
Deadline for signing up to the event is 22nd of October.

Travel expenses: We have a limited budget to cover travel expenses for some participants joining from other parts of the country. You are encouraged to apply for a refund if travel expenses is a barrier for your participation. Participants that do not have Norwegian as their first language and participants living outside of the Oslo region will be prioritised.
Application form for travel refund – Intersex community meeting – Bergen 25.10.26 – Fyll ut skjema

Deadline for applying for a refund is 15th of October, but refunds are granted on a rolling basis.

There will be a similar community meeting in Oslo Saturday 21st of November.

You are also welcome to get in touch if you have questions or would like an informal conversation before signing up. If you do, send an email to christine@foreningenfri.no.
We hope to see you in Bergen!

FRI og Likestillingssenteret på Vestlandet inviterer til stor markering mandag 26. oktober – bli med på markering av Intersex Awareness Day 2026 i Bergen (scroll down for info in English).
Programmet strømmes for personer som ikke kan delta fysisk (link sendes til påmeldte).

Krever påmelding!
Meld deg på her!

Program:
16.30 – Dørene åpner!
17:00 – Velkommen
17:05 – ABC: Hva er intersex? v/ Viljar Eidsvik, Likestillingssenteret på Vestlandet (på norsk)
17.30 – Intersex i Europa – erfaringar og utfordringar
v/ Irene Kuzemko, Organisation Intersex International Europe (på engelsk)
18.10 – Panelsamtale: Hvordan kan vi arbeide for trygge møteplasser og bedre levekår for intersexpersonar? (på engelsk)
– Irene Kuzemko, Organisation Intersex International Europe
– Olav Wiik Moland, aktivist
– Viljar Eidsvik, Likestillingssenteret på Vestlandet

Samtalen blir ledet av Christine Marie Jentoft-Teigland, rådgiver på kjønnsmangfold i FRI

18.45 Kommenter og avsluttende ord.

19.00 Slutt

Matservering frå kl. 16.30

Arrangementet er gratis og åpent for alle, men krever påmelding.

Frist for påmelding til fysisk deltaking er 22. oktober. Digital deltaking har ikke påmeldingsfrist, men du må være påmeldt for å få tilgong til lenke.

Velkommen til Intersex Awareness Day 2026!

 

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Info in English

How are intersex people in Norway doing? By intersex, we mean people born with sex characteristics (reproductive organs, hormonal structure and/or levels, and/or chromosomal patterns) that do not fit the typical medical definitions of male or female bodies.

In Norway, there is limited knowledge about the living conditions of intersex people, and intersex people have few opportunities for community and participation. From Europe, we know that intersex people may have traumatic experiences in encounters with public services, experience discrimination more frequently, and may be more likely to experience mental health difficulties.

There are few organised networks for intersex people in Norway. Networks are often highlighted as something that can contribute to peer support and better living comnditions. Unfortunately, there are examples of Norwegian healthcare professionals discouraging intersex people from making contact with others in similar situations. This can contribute to isolation and a lack of supportive networks.

This evening, we hope to contribute to a conversation around the following questions: What is intersex? What challenges do intersex people face today? And what is needed to ensure good living conditions for intersex people?

Join us in marking Intersex Awareness Day in Bergen!

The programme will be streamed for people who are unable to attend in person.

Programme
16:30 – Doors open! Food served
17:00 – Welcome
17:05 – ABC: What is intersex?
with Viljar Eidsvik, Likestillingssenteret på Vestlandet
(in Norwegian)
17:30 – Intersex in Europe – experiences and challenges
with Irene Kuzemko, Organisation Intersex International Europe
(in English)
18:10 – Panel discussion: How can we work towards safe spaces and better living conditions for intersex people?
(in English)
– Irene Kuzemko, Organisation Intersex International Europe
– Olav Wiik Moland, activist
– Viljar Eidsvik, Likestillingssenteret på Vestlandet
– The discussion will be chaired by Christine Marie Jentoft-Teigland, Gender Diversity Adviser at Foreningen FRI

18:45 – Comments and closing remarks
19:00 – End

Food served from 16:30

The event is free and open to everyone, but registration is required.

The deadline for registering to attend in person is 22 October. There is no registration deadline for digital participation, but you must register in order to receive the link.

Welcome to Intersex Awareness Day 2026!