Mauro Cabral
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Mauro Cabral Grinspan, also known as Mauro Cabral, is an Argentinian
intersex Intersex people are those 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 binar ...
and
trans Trans- is a Latin prefix meaning "across", "beyond", or "on the other side of". Used alone, trans may refer to: Sociology * Trans, a sociological term which may refer to: ** Transgender, people who identify themselves with a gender that di ...
activist and researcher. He coordinates the project on intersex depathologization at InterAction for Health and Human Rights. Previously, he served as the Senior Officer for Gender Justice and Equity at the Global Philanthropy Project. Before that, he was the Executive Director of
GATE A gate or gateway is a point of entry to or from a space enclosed by walls. The word is derived from Proto-Germanic language, Proto-Germanic ''*gatan'', meaning an opening or passageway. Synonyms include yett (which comes from the same root w ...
, organization that he co-founded in 2009. Mauro Cabral Grinspan is a signatory of the
Yogyakarta Principles The Yogyakarta Principles is a document about human rights in the areas of sexual orientation and gender identity that was published as the outcome of an international meeting of human rights groups in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in November 2006. T ...
and a signatory of the Yogyakarta Principles Plus 10. In July 2015, Cabral received the inaugural
Bob Hepple Sir Bob Alexander Hepple Order of Luthuli, OLG (11 August 1934 – 21 August 2015) was a South African-born legal academic and leader in the fields of labour law, equality before the law, equality and human rights. Early life and education He w ...
Equality Award.


Early life and perspectives

Mauro Cabral Grinspan was assigned female at birth, but now lives as male. He has described how his
intersex Intersex people are those 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 binar ...
body was discovered to be different or "incomplete" in his teens; after two surgeries he had to undergo several years of invasive procedures. He has said in an interview that the surgery makes him feel that he needed surgery before he could be loved. Cabral Grinspan argues homophobia is a driving force behind the common urge to "normalize" intersex children into traditional male or female categories, and proposes surgeries for intersex persons send a message to children that their bodies have to be changed to be acceptable. Additionally, Cabral Grinspan suggests a need for broader cultural acceptance of intersex without treating these people as though they suffer from a medical disorder.


Activism

Mauro Cabral Grinspan has been involved in activism on trans and intersex issues since at least 2005. From 2005 to 2007 he was in charge of coordinating the Trans and Intersex Area at the IGLHRC Latin American Office. He then worked for three years at MULABI, Latin American Space for Sexualities and Rights, becoming Executive Director in 2009. Cabral became a co-director of
GATE A gate or gateway is a point of entry to or from a space enclosed by walls. The word is derived from Proto-Germanic language, Proto-Germanic ''*gatan'', meaning an opening or passageway. Synonyms include yett (which comes from the same root w ...
in January 2010 and also co-chairs the International Trans* Reference Group at the Global Forum on MSM and HIV/AIDS. Cabral is a member of the Latin American Consortium on Intersex Issues, and of the International Advisory Board at the
Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch (HRW) is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Headquartered in New York City, the group investigates and reports on issues including War crime, war crimes, crim ...
LGBT Program. Cabral Grinspan participated in actions that led to the approval of a ground-breaking law on gender identity by the Argentinian Senate in April 2012. The law makes it possible to change sex designation without undergoing surgical or clinical treatment, or judicial approval. Cabral Grinspan has co-ordinated work on reform of the
World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a list of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Gen ...
's
International Classification of Diseases The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is a globally used medical classification that is used in epidemiology, health management and clinical diagnosis. The ICD is maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is the dir ...
, in particular a critique and alternative proposals in relation to "Gender Incongruence of Childhood". He is a contributor to the World Health Organization report "Sexual health, human rights and the law". Cabral Grinspan helped organise the third
International Intersex Forum The International Intersex Forum is an annual event organised, then later supported, by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, ILGA and ILGA-Europe that and List of intersex organizations, organisations from mul ...
in Malta, 2013. In 2015, Cabral became the senior advisor for a first philanthropic Intersex Human Rights Fund established by the
Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice is an international charitable foundation based in the United States focused on human rights of LGBT people, intersex people, and people of color. The organization provide grants to individuals and org ...
. In 2006 Cabral participated in the production of the
Yogyakarta Principles The Yogyakarta Principles is a document about human rights in the areas of sexual orientation and gender identity that was published as the outcome of an international meeting of human rights groups in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in November 2006. T ...
on the Application of Human Rights Legislation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, and was one of the initial 29 signatories. He is also a drafting committee member and signatory of the Yogyakarta Principles plus 10, on the application of
international human rights law International human rights law (IHRL) is the body of international law designed to promote human rights on social, regional, and domestic levels. As a form of international law, international human rights law is primarily made up of treaties, ag ...
in relation to sexual orientation, gender identity,
gender expression Gender expression (or gender presentation) is a person's behavior, mannerisms, interests, and appearance that are associated with gender in a particular cultural context, typically understood in terms of masculinity and femininity. Gender expr ...
and sex characteristics. In January 2024
Intersex Human Rights Australia Intersex Human Rights Australia (IHRA) is a voluntary organisation for intersex people that promotes the human rights and bodily autonomy of intersex people in Australia, and provides education and information services. Established in 2009 and i ...
announced that Cabral had been appointed as the Principal Consultant and Project Coordinator on their newest international project.


Academic career

Cabral Grinspan has a Degree in History from the
National University of Córdoba The National University of Córdoba (), is a public university located in the city of Córdoba, Argentina. Founded in 1613, the university is the oldest in Argentina, the third oldest university of the Americas, with the first university being ...
.


Selected bibliography


Books

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Journals

* * * *


Editorials

* * * * *


Speeches

* In September 2016, Cabral gave a keynote presentation at the 2016 Trans*studies conference at the
University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it ...
. * The "first
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
Human Rights Council The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world. The Council has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis. The ...
side event on intersex issues" in March 2014, alongside representatives of Intersex UK,
Organisation Intersex International Australia Intersex Human Rights Australia (IHRA) is a voluntary organisation for intersex people that promotes the human rights and bodily autonomy of intersex people in Australia, and provides education and information services. Established in 2009 and i ...
, and
Zwischengeschlecht Zwischengeschlecht (literally "between sexes") is a human rights advocacy group campaigning on intersex bodily autonomy issues. The group demonstrates outside medical events where surgical interventions are discussed or performed, engages with th ...
, * In March 2013, Mauro Cabral, together with
Natasha Jiménez Natasha Jiménez is a trans and intersex activist and author who is currently the General Coordinator for MULABI, Latin American Space for Sexualities and Rights, the first host of the Intersex Secretariat for ILGA. She is an advisory board membe ...
o
MULABI
Paula Sandrine Marchado and Pidgeon Pagonis testified to the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (the IACHR or, in the three other official languages Spanish, French, and Portuguese language, Portuguese CIDH, ''Comisión Interamericana de los Derechos Humanos'', ''Commission Interaméricaine des ...
on ''Situation of Human Rights of Intersex Persons in the Americas''. The first hearing on intersex human rights before the Commission, each shared their personal experiences and presented broader issues, such as "normalization" surgery on the genitals of intersex infants. * On 30 June 2011, Mauro Cabral, gave a speech at the
European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights The Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI, after the French name ''Sous-commission des droits de l'homme du Parlement européen'') is a subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament. It is responsible for issues of human ...
on trans and intersex rights. Cabral has contributed to numerous documents including the Yogyakarta Principles, the World Health Organization report "Sexual health, human rights and the law", and the
Open Society Foundations Open Society Foundations (OSF), formerly the Open Society Institute, is an American grantmaking network founded by business magnate George Soros. Open Society Foundations financially supports civil society groups around the world, with the s ...
report "Licence to Be Yourself".


Awards and recognition

In July 2015, Cabral was a co-recipient of the inaugural Bob Hepple Equality Award, alongside Pragna Patel of
Southall Black Sisters Southall Black Sisters (SBS) is a non-profit organisation based in Southall, West London, England. This women's group was established in August 1979 in the aftermath of the death of anti-fascist activist Blair Peach, who had taken part in a dem ...
. The award is named for
Bob Hepple Sir Bob Alexander Hepple Order of Luthuli, OLG (11 August 1934 – 21 August 2015) was a South African-born legal academic and leader in the fields of labour law, equality before the law, equality and human rights. Early life and education He w ...
, the former lawyer of
Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela ( , ; born Rolihlahla Mandela; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the first president of South Africa f ...
. The Oxford Human Rights Hub comments, "Cabral was crucial in the process leading to the enactment of Argentina's Gender Identity Law in 2012, a law which has been extensively cited in court decisions on gender identity cases, including the Indian Supreme Court, and which has inspired legislation reform in countries including Malta, the Netherlands and Sweden."


References


External links


GATE websiteMULABI website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cabral Grinspan, Mauro 1971 births Living people Intersex transgender men Intersex rights activists Argentine LGBTQ rights activists Transgender rights activists People from Córdoba, Argentina National University of Córdoba alumni Argentine transgender men Intersex rights in Argentina Transgender rights in Argentina Intersex writers Intersex academics Transgender male writers 21st-century Argentine LGBTQ people