# Hiker Chiu
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{{Short description|Intersex activist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Hiker Chiu
| image = Free hugs with intersex.jpg
| caption = Hiker Chiu and their "Global Free Hugs with Intersex" movement
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1966}}
| birth_place =
| occupation =
| known_for = Intersex activist and educator, founder of [Oii-Chinese](/source/Oii-Chinese)
| website =
}}
'''Hiker Chiu''' ({{lang-zh|t=丘愛芝}}; born 1966) is a Taiwanese [intersex human rights](/source/intersex_human_rights) activist who founded [Oii-Chinese](/source/Oii-Chinese) in 2008 and cofounded [Intersex Asia](/source/Intersex_Asia) in 2018.[{{Cite web | title = Intersex Asia – Asia's regional intersex network – set up at Asian Intersex Forum | url = https://www.astraeafoundation.org/stories/first-asian-intersex-forum/ | work = [Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice](/source/Astraea_Lesbian_Foundation_for_Justice) | date = February 14, 2018 | accessdate = March 19, 2021 | archive-date = September 5, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180905175535/https://www.astraeafoundation.org/stories/first-asian-intersex-forum/ | url-status = dead }}]
== Early life ==
Chiu did not fully develop the [secondary sexual characteristic](/source/secondary_sexual_characteristic)s expected of women during their adolescent years. Upon viewing their medical records, they discovered that a physician had described their condition, in English, as a "pseudo hermaphrodite." Chiu felt that this description made them a "monster." Chiu asked their parents about their condition. They stated that they were both male and female with "two sets." Chiu did not learn about the word ''[intersex](/source/intersex)'' until viewing the film ''[XXY](/source/XXY_(film))'' in 2008, and after they reread their medical files regarding surgical and hormonal treatment performed in their early years.[{{cite news |last1=Gaffney |first1=Stuart |last2=Lewis |first2=John |title=International Activist Hiker Chiu Helps to Lead the Way on Intersex Social Justice |url=http://sfbaytimes.com/international-activist-hiker-chiu-helps-lead-way-intersex-social-justice/ |access-date=13 April 2020 |work=San Francisco Bay Times}}][{{cite news |title=Taiwan: Valentine's Day for intersex activist Hiker |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2018/02/pride-and-prejudice-valentines-day-lgbti-activists-taiwan/ |access-date=13 April 2020 |publisher=Amnesty International |date=14 February 2018}}][{{cite news |title="We Are Not Monsters. We Are Full of Love." — Hiker Chiu, Taiwan |url=https://medium.com/alturi-world/we-are-not-monsters-we-are-full-of-love-hiker-chiu-taiwan-62ea9b456d4e |access-date=13 April 2020 |work=Medium |date=21 December 2015}}][{{cite news |url=http://next.liberation.fr/sexe/2015/07/01/sans-contrefacon-je-suis-fille-et-garcon_1341211 |title=Sans contrefaçon, je suis fille et garçon |last1=Allain |first1=Pierre-Henri |date=July 1, 2015 |work=[Libération](/source/Lib%C3%A9ration) |access-date=2015-07-02 |archive-date=2015-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703145734/http://next.liberation.fr/sexe/2015/07/01/sans-contrefacon-je-suis-fille-et-garcon_1341211 |url-status=dead }}]
== Activism ==
Through Oii-Chinese organisation aims to end "normalising" surgeries on [intersex](/source/intersex) children, promote awareness of intersex issues, and improve government recognition of gender. The organisation also gives lectures and lobbies government. As part of this mission, Chiu started a "free hugs with intersex" campaign at [Taiwan Pride](/source/Taiwan_Pride) in 2010.[{{cite web| url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2013/11/27/2003577754/ | title = Neither here, nor there | work = [Taipei Times](/source/Taipei_Times) | date = November 27, 2013}}][{{cite news | url = http://www.lihpao.com/?action-viewnews-itemid-136232 | title = 擁抱陰陽人 系列2：停止矯正手術 陰陽兒不是異形 | work = Lihpao Daily | date = 23 December 2013 | access-date = 3 July 2015 | archive-date = 3 July 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150703234800/http://www.lihpao.com/?action-viewnews-itemid-136232 | url-status = dead }}][{{cite news | url = http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/taiwan-allows-legal-gender-changes-without-transitioning091213 | title = Taiwan to allow legal gender changes without transitioning | work = [Gay Star News](/source/Gay_Star_News) | date = 9 December 2013 | access-date = 3 July 2015 | archive-date = 26 May 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160526045841/http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/taiwan-allows-legal-gender-changes-without-transitioning091213/ | url-status = dead }}][{{cite web | url = http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2013/new/nov/3/today-o2.htm | title = Germany recognises gender 'X' | work = [Liberty Times](/source/Liberty_Times) | date = November 3, 2013}}][{{cite web | url = http://blog.rti.org.tw/english/2011/01/20/intersex-hiker-chius-story/ | title = Intersex: Hiker Chiu's story | work = [Radio Taiwan International](/source/Radio_Taiwan_International) | date = January 20, 2011 | access-date = July 3, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150703175709/http://blog.rti.org.tw/english/2011/01/20/intersex-hiker-chius-story/ | archive-date = July 3, 2015 | url-status = dead }}] This was also the first time Chiu appeared in public as an intersex person.[{{cite news |last1=Ho |first1=Yi |title=Pride and prejudice |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2013/10/25/2003575311 |access-date=13 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=25 October 2013}}]
Chiu participated in the first [International Intersex Forum](/source/International_Intersex_Forum) in 2011, including as a spokesperson.[{{cite web | url = http://ilga.org/first-ever-international-intersex-forum/ | title = First ever international intersex forum | work = [International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association](/source/International_Lesbian%2C_Gay%2C_Bisexual%2C_Trans_and_Intersex_Association) | date = 7 September 2011}}] In 2015, Chiu joined an international advisory board for a first philanthropic Intersex Human Rights Fund established by the [Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice](/source/Astraea_Lesbian_Foundation_for_Justice).[{{cite web |url=http://www.astraeafoundation.org/news/344/60/Introducing-the-Intersex-Fund-team-at-Astraea |title=Introducing the Intersex Fund team at Astraea! |author= |date=June 16, 2015 |website=[Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice](/source/Astraea_Lesbian_Foundation_for_Justice) |publisher=Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice |access-date=2015-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703205803/http://www.astraeafoundation.org/news/344/60/Introducing-the-Intersex-Fund-team-at-Astraea |archive-date=July 3, 2015 |url-status=dead }}] In the same year, Chiu was elected to the board of the [International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association](/source/International_Lesbian%2C_Gay%2C_Bisexual%2C_Trans_and_Intersex_Association), representing ILGA Asia.[{{cite web | title = Board | url = http://ilga.org/about-us/board/ | work = [International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association](/source/International_Lesbian%2C_Gay%2C_Bisexual%2C_Trans_and_Intersex_Association) | access-date = 2017-01-12}}]
Chiu is a co-founder of [Intersex Asia](/source/Intersex_Asia), established in 2018.