By Clare McGrane
Fall 2014 Kaplan Award Winner
Amanda Saenz is tall and lean, with short-cut brown hair. Amanda Saenz does not identify as male or female, and prefers the neutral pronoun “they” instead of “he” or “she.” They have a sharp dress sense, favoring clean-cut button ups and simple khaki pants. While Amanda is in many ways a typical college student, they have a unique biology: Amanda is intersex. They have male DNA, but were declared female at birth and raised as a girl. When Amanda was 13, they were diagnosed with Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, raising question about gender and identity that they are still working through today. In this memoir, Amanda recounts their experience being diagnosed and their journey through developing their gender identity. Amanda is an active member of InterAct, a youth intersex support organization, as well as other intersex and LGBT groups around Seattle.