Mani Bruce Mitchell MNZM (born 1953) is an intersex activist and counsellor from Wellington, New Zealand.[2] In 2021, Mitchell was recognised as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.[3]
Mani Mitchell | |
|---|---|
 Mitchell in 2021 | |
| Born | 1953 (age 70–71) Waikato, New Zealand |
| Occupation | Counsellor |
| Known for | Intersex activist and educator |
| Television | Intersexion (2012) Yellow for Hermaphrodite: Mani's Story (2003)[1] |
| Website | www |
Early life
editMitchell was born and raised in the central North Island on a sheep and cattle farm and educated at Taupo-nui-a-Tia College and the University of Waikato. Identified as a "hermaphrodite" at birth, Mitchell underwent "non-consensual genital 'feminising' surgeries" as a child, and is also a survivor of sexual abuse.[3]
Career
editSince 1996, Mitchell has been actively involved in education on intersex and gender variance issues, lecturing at universities and running workshops around the world, and was also involved in the production of several TV documentaries, a film, and a photography book. Mitchell is a member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors, World Professional Association for Transgender Health and the International Transactional Analysis Association.
Mitchell is the Executive Director of Intersex Trust Aotearoa New Zealand, also known as Intersex Awareness New Zealand.[4]
Mitchell has also narrated the documentary Intersexion (2012), directed by Grant Lahood, which features the story of Mani Mitchell and many other individuals, and looks at how intersex people navigate their way through life.[5]
Mitchell also helped organise the third International Intersex Forum in November/December 2013,[6] and participated in a meeting of New Zealand and Australian intersex organisations in Darlington, Sydney, Australia, leading to publication of the Darlington Statement policy platform.[7]
In 2021, Mitchell spoke of amazement at seeing "intersex people 'moving out of that shame and secrecy and into a playful, joyful place' over the years".[3]
Recognition
editIn the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, Mitchell was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for their work as a human rights advocate and educator.[3][7] Mitchell is thought to be one of the first intersex non-binary New Zealanders to receive the award.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Yellow for Hermaphrodite: Mani's Story". Greenstone TV. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ "Being intersex: I went from being my parents' son to a daughter". The New Zealand Herald. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Chumko, Andre (6 June 2021). "Queen's Birthday Honours: Intersex advocate Mani Bruce Mitchell on doing the mahi". Stuff. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ "ITANZ Trust members". Intersex Awareness New Zealand. 5 November 2013. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013.
- ^ "Documentary Edge Festival 2012: Intersexion". Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ "3rd International Intersex Forum in Malta". ILGA-Europe. 22 July 2013. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013.
- ^ a b "Queen's Birthday Honours 2021 – citations for Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.