interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth

What interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth does

interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2006 (originally as Advocates for Informed Choice) and headquartered via a mailing address in Swampscott, Massachusetts while operating entirely remotely across the United States. It is the oldest and largest U.S. organization dedicated to advancing the rights of intersex youth, and is described as the only intersex-led policy organization in the country with full-time attorneys working on intersex bodily autonomy. Its mission is to end non-consensual medical interventions on intersex children and to empower intersex young people through legal advocacy, policy reform, public education, and youth leadership development.

The organization's core programs include the Youth Advocacy Program (launched 2011, serving intersex youth ages 13-29 with a cohort model and a network of 60+ youth advocates), Law & Policy Advocacy (amicus briefs in landmark cases, legislative work in California and other jurisdictions), interSpace (a Discord-based peer support community operated in partnership with InterConnect), Intersex Education and Training, Intersex Research collaborations with medical communities, and the Intersex Media Guide for journalists. Strategic alliances span Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP (pro bono legal), Equality California, ACLU of California, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal, Transgender Law Center, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, WHO, and the UN human rights system.

interACT generates revenue exclusively through donations and contributions, including the interCircle monthly recurring giving program and one-time donations processed via its website; foundation grants (e.g., Ms. Foundation, Liberty Hill Foundation) have historically seeded program growth. The organization does not sell products or services and has no pricing model. With 1-10 full-time staff and a distributed volunteer youth network, it relies on a lean all-remote operating model to scale advocacy reach across U.S. state legislatures, federal courts, and international human rights bodies.

Name

interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth

Legal name

interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth

Website

https://interactadvocates.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 that advances the rights of intersex youth ages 13-29 through legal advocacy, policy reform, public education, and a national youth leadership program, operating fully remotely in the United States with international policy engagement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sudbury

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The organization accepts donations through its website, with a monthly giving program called interCircle that provides recurring support. One-time donations are also accepted.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

interACT is a 501(c)(3) advocacy organization that advances the rights of intersex youth through legal advocacy (amicus briefs, litigation support, legislative work), public education and training for governments and institutions, a youth leadership development program (ages 13–29) with peer support, and media engagement to promote authentic intersex representation. Its programs are delivered by a small all-remote staff with full-time attorneys, an executive director, and a network of 60+ youth advocates.

Product overview

interACT is a nonprofit advocacy organization (not a technology product company) offering a portfolio of programs focused on empowering intersex youth and advancing intersex rights. The core programs include the Youth Advocacy Program (for ages 13-29 with cohort-based model and interSpace peer support via Discord), Law & Policy Advocacy (litigation, amicus briefs, legislative work), Intersex Education and Training (presentations to various audiences), Intersex Research (collaboration with medical communities), and resource products like the Intersex Media Guide. The organization operates as an all-remote nonprofit without technology products per se, functioning primarily through advocacy, public engagement, and community connection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• interACT Youth Advocacy Program: Youth-led advocacy program for intersex teens and young adults ages 13-29, empowering the next generation of intersex youth leaders.
• interSpace
• Anne Tamar-Mattis Advocacy Award
• Kimberly Zieselman Award

Products and services

• Youth Advocacy Program A cohort-based program founded in 2011 that empowers intersex youth ages 13–29 through advocacy skills development, media training, leadership opportunities, and storytelling support. Operates on local and national cohorts and is described as the world's largest intersex advocacy group for this age range.
• interSpace A peer support community platform for intersex youth, delivered via a Discord server, designed as the peer support arm of the Youth Advocacy Program for members ages 13–29.
• Law & Policy Advocacy

Quantifiable outcome

• interACT Youth is the world's largest intersex advocacy group for members ages 13-29
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• InterConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration with InterConnect, a long-running peer support group for intersex people, their families, and allies, to help run interSpace (formerly iSpace) - the peer support arm of the interACT Youth Program for intersex youth ages 13-29. InterConnect provides support groups for all ages.
• Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPro bono attorneys from Patterson Belknap prepared amicus briefs for interACT in multiple landmark cases including Supreme Court cases on sex discrimination (Bostock v. Clayton County), support for Gavin Grimm, Dana Zzyym passport case, and amicus briefs in sports discrimination cases.
• Equality CaliforniaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored California legislation including SB 201, SB 225, and SCR 110 to protect intersex youth from non-consensual surgeries. Equality California is an LGBTQ+ civil rights organization.
• ACLU of CaliforniaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored California legislation including SB 201 and SB 225 to protect bodily autonomy of intersex youth and delay non-consensual surgeries.
• National Center for Lesbian RightsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored California SB 225 (Bodily Autonomy, Dignity and Choice Act) working to promote bodily autonomy on genital surgeries for intersex children.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerinterACT was involved in developing the interagency statement on eliminating forced, coercive and involuntary sterilization signed by WHO along with CRPD, OHCHR, UN Women, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA, and UNICEF. The statement explicitly mentions sterilization of intersex children.
• Amnesty InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to document and advocate against medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex children. Amnesty International released a policy statement on rights of intersex individuals and collaborated on human rights advocacy.
• Human Rights WatchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive-year partnership documenting harms intersex people face from medically unnecessary surgeries. Collaborated on reports including I Want to Be Like Nature Made Me (2017) and continues advocacy for intersex bodily autonomy.
• United Nations (UN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive engagement with UN human rights bodies including UN Convention Against Torture, UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, and participation in UN Free & Equal campaign featuring interACT staff, board and youth members.
• International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in International Intersex Forums co-sponsored by ILGA starting with first forum in Brussels (2011), Stockholm (2012), Malta (2013 resulting in Malta Declaration), and Amsterdam (2017).
• Organization of American States (OAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerinterACT Executive Director testified before the Inter-American Commission at the Organization of American States in Washington, DC alongside international intersex activists from Costa Rica.
• Transgender Law CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiled amicus brief with Transgender Law Center and Beyond Binary Legal supporting nonbinary adult's access to accurate documentation in Oregon circuit court case, eventually victorious at Court of Appeals.
• Lambda LegalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Lambda Legal on amicus brief supporting Dana Zzyym's battle for an 'X' passport, representing the intersex community member in lawsuit against State Department's refusal to issue accurate passport.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR): LGBTQ+ legal advocacy organization co-sponsoring legislation with interACT in California (SB 225 Bodily Autonomy, Dignity and Choice Act). Closely aligned mission and overlapping federal/state policy work make it a direct peer.
• Human Rights Watch: International human rights organization that has a five-year partnership with interACT documenting harms from medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex people. Highly comparable mission and intersecting advocacy portfolio on intersex rights specifically.
• Lambda Legal: National legal organization advancing LGBTQ+ civil rights through litigation and policy. Directly comparable because interACT partners with Lambda Legal on amicus briefs (e.g., the Dana Zzyym 'X' passport case) and operates in overlapping legal-advocacy territory on gender and bodily autonomy.
• Transgender Law Center: Legal advocacy organization focused on transgender and gender-nonconforming communities. interACT has co-filed amicus briefs with Transgender Law Center; adjacent mission space with directly overlapping case work on identity documentation and bodily autonomy.
• Equality California: California-based LGBTQ+ civil rights organization that is a flagship legislative partner with interACT, co-sponsoring SB 201, SB 225, and SCR 110. Directly comparable peer in legislative advocacy and state-level policy.
• GLAAD: LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization working to change media narratives. Directly comparable to interACT’s media-program function (Intersex Media Guide, journalist engagement), though operating at a broader LGBTQ+ scale.
• InterConnect: Long-running peer support group for intersex people, families, and allies that collaborates with interACT to run interSpace, the peer support arm of the interACT Youth Program. Most directly comparable peer given overlapping peer-support service offering.

Broad incumbents

• Amnesty International: Global human rights organization that has partnered with interACT on policy statements and advocacy regarding non-consensual intersex surgeries. Larger incumbent with overlapping but broader human rights mandate.
• The Trevor Project: Large LGBTQ+ youth organization providing crisis intervention and peer support. Comparable to interACT’s youth program in age demographic (13-29) and peer-support function (interSpace), though Trevor Project operates at significantly larger scale and broader LGBTQ+ scope.
• ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union): Broad civil liberties organization working across intersecting rights issues including LGBTQ+ rights, bodily autonomy, and healthcare access. interACT partners with ACLU of California on legislative co-sponsorship; ACLU is a much larger incumbent with overlapping but not specialized focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/advocates-for-informed-choice-aic-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth