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17
September
2025

Being Intersex in the EU

This report highlights the discrimination, harassment, violence, and non-consensual medical interventions faced by intersex people across 30 European countries, based on responses from nearly 2,000 participants in FRA's 2023 EU LGBTIQ Survey III. It reveals that many intersex individuals also identify as trans, non-binary, gender-diverse and have varied sexual orientations, which further compounds their experiences of discrimination. The report aims to support the development of laws and policies that promote the inclusion and dignity of intersex people.

This chapter presents findings about key areas of social life, from school and education to housing difficulties, homelessness, problems faced when accessing administrative authorities, perception of progress or deterioration as well as the level of trust in government protection.

It depicts a social group struggling for inclusion and dignity. Those people with more intersecting SOGIESC and vulnerable socioeconomic identities experience even harsher life experiences, making the case for an intersectional approach and recognising that individuals experience multiple forms of discrimination based on the interplay of various social identities, like sexual orientation, gender identity, as well as ethnic origin, class, disability, etc. As stated in Directive 2024/1500 on standards for equality bodies, ‘intersectional discrimination … is understood as discrimination based on a combination of sex and any other ground or grounds of discrimination protected under Directives 79/7/EEC, 2000/43/EC, 2000/78/EC or 2004/113/EC’. Acknowledging these realities is a necessary step to ensure the protection of their rights, well-being and inclusion in society with a life in autonomy and dignity.

Intersex persons with disabilities or in vulnerable socioeconomic conditions face compounded challenges and exclusion, pointing to the relevance of both Article 26 (support for the integration of persons with disabilities) and Article 34 of the Charter (guarantees social security and assistance).

One result of the survey – repeated and confirmed in both the EU LGBTI (2019) and the LGBTIQ (2023) surveys – is the relatively high rate of homelessness experiences reported by the intersex respondents. A notable proportion of 6 % of intersex respondents say that they had to sleep rough or in a public space or the street at least once, compared with 0.2 % of the general population and 1 % of other survey groups.

Figure 28 – Housing difficulties experienced by intersex respondents

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Bar chart showing the proportion of intersex respondents who faced housing difficulties by type of difficulty. 17% had to stay with friends or relatives temporarily, 6% had to 'sleep rough' or sleep in a public space.

Source: EU LGBTIQ Survey III (2023), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

Among intersex respondents, the percentage is higher for trans men intersex (17 %) non-binary and gender-diverse intersex (11 %) and trans women intersex (10 %) respondents.

When asked about the reasons for facing housing difficulties, almost one in four or 24 % say that relationship or family problems was the most important reason. These problems are flagged as the main reasons for housing difficulties by one third (32 %) of non-binary and gender-diverse intersex and more than one in four (26 %) trans women intersex respondents.

Unemployment and insufficient income were mentioned as the main reasons of housing difficulties by 18 % and 17 % respectively of all intersex respondents.

As most intersex persons observe the variation of sex characteristics in adolescence, they are vulnerable to bullying as they go through a critical phase of self-development, acceptance and understanding and adjusting to their differences. Their experiences at school can therefore be determinative, since they may face key social life challenges at a time when they are also undergoing diverse medical assessments and interventions.

In the 2023 survey, three out of four intersex respondents (76 %) reported suffering bullying, ridicule, teasing, insults or threats during their time in school because they were LGBTIQ, marking a significant increase from 2019 (54 %). The results reveal intense victimisation of intersex respondents, compared with the already high rates of bullying against all LGBTIQ groups recorded in the 2023 survey (67 %).

Figure 29 shows the survey findings regarding experiences of bullying at school, i.e. whether they were ridiculed, teased, insulted or threatened because of being LGBTIQ. Seven in ten say they were bullied at school by their peers and 22 % by teachers or school staff.

Figure 29 – Bullying at school experiences by all intersex respondents

Bar chart showing the proportion of intersex respondents who were bullied at school by schoolmates (71%), by teacher or school staff (22%) or never (24%).

Source: EU LGBTIQ Survey III (2023), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

Figure 30 shows that an extremely high proportion of trans men intersex respondents endured bullying experiences at school. A very high proportion of them (86 %) say they were bullied by other schoolmates while 46 % say such experiences came from teachers or school staff.

Figure 30 – Bullying at school experiences by intersex trans men

Bar chart showing the proportion of intersex trans men respondents who were bullied at school by schoolmates (86%), by teacher or school staff (46%) or never (8%).

Source: EU LGBTIQ Survey III (2023), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

Similarly, as shown in Figure 31, trans women intersex respondents say that at school they were ridiculed, teased, insulted or threatened because of being LGBTIQ. 82 % say this was done by their schoolmates and 42 % by their teachers or school staff.

Figure 31 – Bullying at school experiences by intersex trans women

Bar chart showing the proportion of intersex trans women respondents who were bullied at school by schoolmates (82%), by teacher or school staff (42%) or never (15%).

Source: EU LGBTIQ Survey III (2023), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

Figure 32 shows the levels of bullying suffered by non-binary and gender-diverse intersex respondents at school. 71 % say this was done by their schoolmates and 34 % by their teachers or school staff.

Figure 32 – Bullying at school experiences by intersex non-binary and gender-diverse respondents

Bar chart showing the proportion of intersex non-binary and gender-diverse respondents who were bullied at school by schoolmates (71%), by teacher or school staff (34%) or never (18%).

Source: EU LGBTIQ Survey III (2023), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

Three in four intersex respondents say that were rarely or never supported by anyone at school. As shown in Figure 33, only a fourth (25 %) of intersex respondents say that often or always someone supported, defended or protected them at school. Half (50 %) of all intersex respondents say this never happened. Six out of ten (60 %) of trans men intersex, 55 % of trans women intersex and bisexual intersex and 58 % of asexual intersex respondents said they were never supported by anyone.

Figure 33 – Supported, defended or protected by anyone at school

Bar chart showing the proportion of intersex respondents who were said that they were supported, defended or protected by anyone at school often (15%) or always (10%), rarely (25%) or never (50%)

Source: EU LGBTIQ Survey III (2023), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

During a period marked by promising legislative and policy initiatives in the EU and the Member States, as presented above in the section Survey in a nutshell the majority of intersex respondents still do not think the government in the country where they live effectively combats prejudice and intolerance against LGBTIQ people. More than four out of ten (43 %) think it is definitely not effective, while 27 % say no, probably not. Only 10 % say yes, definitely and 19 % say yes, probably.

Figure 34 – Intersex respondents’ confidence in their governments’ efforts

Bar chart showing how many intersex respondents think the government in the country where they live, combats effectively prejudice and intolerance against L G B T I Q people. 43% say no, definitely not and 27% no, probably not. Only 10% say yes, definitely and 19% say yes, probably.

Source: EU LGBTIQ Survey III (2023), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

More than one in ten (11 %) of all intersex respondents faced obstacles in registering their civil status or gender in public documents.

With regard to problems with the authorities and legal gender recognition, in the case Y v France (2023) the court stressed that authorities and courts should not ‘confuse the concept of identity with the concept of appearance’ and that ‘as an element of private life, an individual’s identity could not be reduced to the appearance that this person was perceived as having by other persons.’. It went further to stress that the reasoning from the French Court of Appeal ‘ignored the reality of the applicant’s life experience; assigned at birth as belonging to the male sex and having, in consequence, been socially identified as such, he had had no other option but to ‘pretend to be a man’.

Figure 35 illustrates the kinds of problems intersex respondents dealt with. Half of them (51 %) faced bureaucratic obstacles, such as requests for excessive documentation or medical certificates or fees. About half (49 %) say they were denied service or ridiculed and/or harassed by public officials, while 48 % say their privacy was violated and their personal or sensitive data exposed or not properly protected.

Figure 35 – Problems faced in registering civil status or gender in public documents, among intersex respondents who faced obstacles

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Bar chart showing proportion of problems faced registering civil status or gender in public documents, among those intersex respondents who faced obstacles in such process.

Source: EU LGBTIQ Survey III (2023), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

The survey asked intersex respondents about where they find support in their lives (see Figure 36). The larger part (41 %) said that they have no one to support them as intersex persons. 38 % said it was their friends and 27 % their family. Fewer respondents say they are supported in life by support groups (8 %) or intersex organisations (7 %).

Figure 36 – Supported in life as intersex persons

Bar chart showing proportion of categories of persons supporting respondents in their lives as intersex persons, the higher being no one (41%) and friends (39%) or family (27%).

Source: EU LGBTIQ Survey III (2023), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

More than half of intersex respondents (58 %) perceive an increase of prejudice and intolerance against LGBTIQ people in the country where they live, while only 25 % perceive a decrease.

Figure 37 shows how many intersex respondents think that in the past five years, prejudice and intolerance against LGBTIQ people has increased, stayed the same or decreased in the country where they live. 35 % say it has increased a lot and 22 % say it increased a little, while only 8 % say it has decreased a lot and 17 % say it has decreased a little.

Figure 37 – Perception of increase or decrease of prejudice and intolerance in the past five years

Bar chart showing how many intersex respondents think that in the past 5 years prejudice and intolerance against L G B T I Q people has increased, stayed the same or decreased in the country where they live. 35% say it has increased a lot, 22% say increase a little, while only 8% say it has decreased a lot and 17% say it has decreased a little.

Source: EU LGBTIQ Survey III (2023), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

About two in three intersex respondents perceive an increase of violence in the past five years before the survey, while only 16 % perceive a decrease.

Figure 38 shows how many intersex respondents think that in the past five years, violence against LGBTIQ people has increased, stayed the same or decreased in the country where they live. 37 % say it has increased a lot, 24 % say increased a little, while only 5 % say it has decreased a lot and 11 % say it has decreased a little.

Figure 38 – Perception of increase or decrease of violence in the past five years

Bar chart showing how many intersex respondents think that in the past 5 years violence against L G B T I Q people has increased, stayed the same or decreased in the country where they live. 37% say it has increased a lot, 24% say increase a little, while only 5% say it has decreased a lot and 11% say it has decreased a little.

Source: EU LGBTIQ Survey III (2023), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

Figure 39 shows the main reasons intersex respondents attribute to the decrease in prejudice and intolerance and violence against LGBTIQ people. Most of them point to the visibility and participation of LGBTIQ people in everyday life (60 %) and to support by civil society (42 %). Less than one third (29 %) of intersex respondents say the support by public figures and community leaders has a positive impact, as 27 % indicate as a main reason the positive changes in law and policy, and 23 % the enforcement of existing law and policies. About one in six respondents (16 %) indicate the positive stance and discourse by politicians and/or political parties.

Figure 39 – Main reasons for decrease in prejudice, intolerance and violence against LGBTIQ people

Bar chart showing the main reasons indicated by intersex respondents behind the decrease in prejudice and intolerance and violence against L G B T I Q people. 60% say this it is the visibility and participation of L G B T I Q people in everyday life, 42% say it's the support by civil society, 29% say the support by public figures and community leaders,  27% indicate positive changes in law and policy and 23% the enforcement of existing law and policies, while 16% point to the positive stance and discourse by politicians and/or political parties.

Source: EU LGBTIQ Survey III (2023), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

Figure 40 shows the main reasons cited by intersex respondents behind the increase in prejudice and intolerance and violence against LGBTIQ people.

More than two out of three (69 %) respondents say the main reason behind the increase is the negative stance and discourse by politicians and/or political parties. 46 % point to the lack of support by civil society and 37 % believe these are due to negative changes in law and policy or the lack of their enforcement.

Figure 40 – Main reasons for increase in prejudice, intolerance and violence against LGBTIQ people

Bar chart showing the main reasons indicated by intersex respondents behind the increase in prejudice and intolerance and violence against L G B T I Q people. 69% say it is the negative stance and discourse by politicians and/or political parties. 46% point to the lack of support by civil society and 37% believe these are the negative changes in law and policy or the lack of their enforcement.

Source: EU LGBTIQ Survey III (2023), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.