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Anick Soni

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Anick Soni
Born (1995-04-03) April 3, 1995 (age 29)[1]
Leicester, England
Occupation(s)Writer, Creative Consultant and Researcher
Known forchildren's rights activist
Websiteinterconnecteduk.org

Anick Soni (born 1995) is a British Asian intersex human rights activist, creative consultant[2] and researcher in childhood and children's rights, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.[3][4][5] In 2020, he co-founded an intersex charity in the UK named InterconnectedUK (iCONUK).[6]

Early life

[edit]

Soni was born with uncommon sex characteristics including hypospadias and partial androgen insensitivity syndrome.[1] Growing up, Soni was subjected to failed surgery at age 4 months, followed by multiple procedures over 17 years to try to improve the outcome and enlarge the size of his penis.[1] In a 2017 interview with Patrick Strudwick for BuzzFeed, he recalls repeated medical examinations, living in fear of discovery at school, an adolescent desire to be 'normal', never having met another intersex person, and a lack of counselling support for him or his parents, leading to an attempted suicide.[1][7][8] Despite experiencing a lack of disclosure during his childhood,[9][10] Soni later chose to undergo a phalloplasty.[1] He learned the word intersex at age 21, initially misunderstanding the term,[11] when he obtained access to his medical records.[12]

Soni graduated with an honours degree in law from the University of Westminster in 2017,[13][3] which included a year of study on Humanities in Sydney, Australia.[1][14] He briefly studied Sociology of Childhood and Children's Rights at University College London.[15] He participated in his first event by and for intersex people in February 2018, at an OII Europe conference in Copenhagen.[16] This experience was filmed for the BBC.[17] Since 2024, Soni has worked at UCL's School for Creative and Cultural Industries.[18]

Media

[edit]

Anick Soni was a radio DJ from the ages of 9–18, hosting a weekly show on Takeover Radio 103.2FM in Leicester.[19] He has been the subject of a BBC TV[16] and radio documentary,[17][20] named The Intersex Diaries. He has regularly appeared on BBC Radio - being invited to speak by Jeremy Vine and Evan Davis on issues involving intersex and mental health.[21] In January 2020, Soni became the first intersex person on the cover of Attitude magazine. In June 2021, he finished filming for an upcoming Channel 4 documentary which he spoke about during TedxLondon's Big Queer Conversation.[22] Soni played the role of Ved in the short-film Queer Parivaar - a short film by Shiva Raichandani.[23] On Intersex Awareness Day 2021, Soni took part in 'Building Queertopia', a BBC Sounds podcast hosted by Chelsee Grimes and Shane Jenek (Courtney Act).[24] Soni worked with Channel 4 to create a documentary exploring phalloplasty in May 2022, his story featured alongside two other men who have had the procedure.[25] Titled “The Man with the Penis on his Arm”, referring to one of the other two men, the film also features Anick's intersex life and explores his feelings about the surgery.[26] For Intersex Awareness Day 2023, Anick wrote about his experiences of dating for Gay Times.[27]

Activism

[edit]

During the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay, Soni carried the Olympic Torch - being nominated by his youth worker Bez and selected by Sir Peter Soulsby, Mayor of Leicester, in recognition for his dedication to improving the lives of children and young people. It was covered as part of ITV News - which followed his journey.[19]

Soni has been involved with intersex activism publicly since 2017, first disclosing his story to BuzzFeed.[1] Soni campaigns for protections from discrimination and forced surgeries, and for better support for children and caregivers,[6][14] visibility and community healing.[4] He describes himself as favouring personal consent and bodily autonomy, and not anti-surgery.[28][29] He has written the first briefing paper[30] on intersex for the UK Parliament[3] and speaks nationally[31] and internationally.[32] A detailed account of his story was featured in a BBC News article in 2018.[33]

He helped organize a first intersex march in London in 2018, with fellow activists and allies.[8][4] Anick was a core team volunteer for UK Black Pride, from 2018 helping in a variety of roles over the years.[34][5] Whilst acknowledging that intersex is not necessarily an 'LGBT+' issue, as a bisexual, he feels comfortable speaking about this intersectionality.[17] He spoke about 'coming out' as intersex for Hunger Magazine[35] and Cosmopolitan.[36] Soni has studied SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics) extensively, and has provided insight into the topic using his intersectional lens.[37]

In 2020 he became a co-founder and trustee of new intersex-led charity InterconnectedUK (iConUK). The charity provides information and guidance for those who are born with variations of sex development/characteristics, differences in sex development and intersex traits.[6]

Soni joined the advisory board for the Privilege Project, where he represents work across media/broadcasting and higher education. In May 2021, he was included in Queer Power! A Celebration of Icons, Activists and Game Changers from Across the Rainbow by illustrator Dom&Ink,[38] published by HarperCollins. He was recognised for his intersex activism and being a Queer Person of Colour within the LGBT+ community - it mentions his involvement in planning events like UK Black Pride and outreach and educational work.[39] Anick is also named as part of the information about 'intersex' in Chloe Davis' The Queen's English.[40]

During June 2021, Soni was part of TedxLondon's Big Queer Conversation. He spoke about the importance of volunteering and his plans to write and create content for children - in March 2022, he received funding from Arts Council England to begin researching his book.[22] Anick has been working with Queer Leadership collective WeCreateSpace to deliver and facilitate learning for people on a wide variety of issues linked to LGBTQIA+ lives.[41] Anick is on the advisory board for Kalda (LGBTQIA+ Mental Health App)[42] In 2022, Anick contributed to Milly Evan's book 'HONEST: Everything They Don't Teach You About Sex and Relationships'.[43] Anick joined the board for The Privilege Project in 2022 which aims to change the conversation around people's privilege and lived experience.[44]

Anick was involved in the GREAT Campaign for the UK Government in 2023.[45] In the global campaign, he speaks about his experience of finding his voice, the power of storytelling, and the diversity of LGBTQIA+ communities in the UK. He shares his affinity with Golden Boy, a book by British Author, Abigail Tarttelin. During Pride Month 2023, Benefit Cosmetics included Anick and Yasmin Benoit as part of their RainBrows Campaign, making Anick and Yasmin the first intersex, and asexual people to be in their global campaigns respectively.[46][47]

Selected bibliography

[edit]
  • Soni, Anick (May 10, 2024) "Gemma Collins was told to abort her intersex baby, but we deserve to live too" METRO. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  • Soni, Anick (October 26, 2023) "Dating as an intersex person" GAY TIMES. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  • Soni, Anick (April 2, 2022) "Make Queer Films For Us, Not About Us.". QueerAF. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  • Soni, Anick (February 25, 2022). "Who Am I?". We Create Space. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  • Soni, Anick (January 31, 2022). "Dani Coyle's New Podcase Celebrates Intersex Joy"[1]. Dazed. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  • Soni, Anick (November 16, 2021). "Building Queertopia"[2]. BBC Sounds. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  • Soni, Anick (25 June 2019). "The realities and complexities of being a Black intersex woman". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  • Soni, Anick (1 May 2019). "Telling Caster Semenya her body is not normal damns the future of sport". Metro. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  • Soni, Anick (30 September 2018). "Why I Made A Film About Being Intersex". AZ Magazine. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  • Soni, Anick (July 13, 2018). "What Does It Mean To Be Intersex - Queerstory". MTV UK. Retrieved July 10, 2021.

Recognition

[edit]

Soni is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.[3] In 2019 he was awarded the Gay Times 'British Community Trailblazer' award in recognition for his work on intersex activism within the LGBT+ community.[4] In 2021, he was recognised as part of the Matter of Culture Honours.[48] In 2012, he was selected as a torch-bearer for the Summer Olympics torch relay.[19] In March 2022, Soni was awarded funding as part of Develop Your Creative Practice by Arts Council England to begin work on his debut collection of short stories for children.[49] Anick was named in Gay Times in a timeline of individuals and organisations who have positively impacted LGBTQ+ life in Britain since the first Pride march in 1972.[50]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Strudwick, Patrick (2 November 2017). "This Young Man Wants You To Know What It's Like Being Intersex". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Anick Soni". ScreenSkills. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d University of Westminster alumni (2020). "Let's Talk About Intersex". issuu. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Megarry, Daniel (21 November 2019). "Anick Soni wins the GAY TIMES Honour for British Community Trailblazer". Gay Times. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b Newbold, Alice (11 June 2020). ""Queer People Of Colour Are Resilient & Resilience Is Power," Says UK Black Pride Founder". British Vogue. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  6. ^ a b c InterconnectedUK (2020). "About Us, InterconnectedUK". InterconnectedUK. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  7. ^ Lindahl, Hans (25 October 2019). "9 Young People on How They Found Out They Are Intersex". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  8. ^ a b Soni, Anick (30 September 2018). "Why I Made A Film About Being Intersex". AZ Magazine. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  9. ^ Strudwick, Patrick (14 November 2018). "The Government Will Launch A Consultation Into How Intersex People Are Treated". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  10. ^ Strudwick, Patrick (17 January 2019). "The Government Has Admitted It Doesn't Know How Many Intersex Children Are Being Operated On". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  11. ^ Carty, Aaron; Soni, Anick (26 October 2020). "Five things to share on Intersex Awareness Day". UK Black Pride. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  12. ^ Duffield, Charlie (11 December 2018). "The Rights Violations and Stigmatisation of Being Intersex 'Are Unique'". EachOther. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  13. ^ University of Westminster, London (2 December 2019). "Alumnus Anick Soni awarded the GAY TIMES Honour for British Community Trailblazer". Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  14. ^ a b Gallagher, Sophie (26 October 2018). "'I Was Tired Of Keeping This Big Secret': The Truth Of Growing Up Intersex". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  15. ^ "River Gallo Selects Their Intersex Icons". Hunger TV. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  16. ^ a b McDermott, Sarah (26 October 2018). "My intersex life: Now I have a new penis, I hope I will find love". BBC News. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  17. ^ a b c "Radio 1 Stories, The Intersex Diaries". BBC Radio 1. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  18. ^ "BEAMS & UCL East Team". UCL Careers. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  19. ^ a b c "Olympic Torch - Anick Soni's Story". ITV News. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Meet Anick - born intersex, and about to have his final surgery". BBC Radio 1. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  21. ^ "BBC Radio 2: Jeremy Vine show: European elections and going bust | University of Westminster, London". www.westminster.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Anick Soni". TEDxLondon. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  23. ^ "TEAM". Queer Parivaar. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  24. ^ "Building Queertopia - Anick". BBC Sounds. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  25. ^ Fallon2022-04-04T09:02:00+01:00, Heather. "Britespark constructs C4 penis doc". Broadcast. Retrieved 4 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ "The Man with a Penis on His Arm - All 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  27. ^ Soni, Anick. "Dating as an intersex person". GAY TIMES. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  28. ^ Silverman, Rosa (2 May 2019). "What it's really like to grow up intersex". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  29. ^ Stroude, Will (30 October 2018). "What's it really like to grow up intersex?". Attitude. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  30. ^ "Intersex Awareness Day — News". APPG on Global LGBT+ Rights. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  31. ^ Savage, Rachel (18 January 2019). "Intersex people should not live in 'fear of humiliation' - UK minister". Reuters. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  32. ^ Braidwood, Ella (5 July 2019). "Intersex People Were Overshadowed At Pride London Last Year – Now We're Marching Again". EachOther. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  33. ^ "My intersex life: Now I have a new penis, I hope I will find love". BBC News. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  34. ^ UK Black Pride (2020). "Meet the team". UK Black Pride. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  35. ^ "Five intersex people share their stories". HUNGER TV. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  36. ^ Soni, As told to Anick (25 June 2021). "The realities and complexities of being a Black intersex woman". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  37. ^ Saini, Angela (10 July 2021). "What is a woman?". Prospect. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  38. ^ "Dom&Ink". Dom&Ink. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  39. ^ Dom&Ink (2021). Queer Power: A Celebration of Icons, Activists and Game Changers from Across the Rainbow. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780008434168.
  40. ^ Davis, Chloe O. (2021). The Queens' English. Penguin Books. ISBN 9781529110401. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  41. ^ SPACE, WE CREATE (25 February 2022). "Who am i? with Anick Soni". WE CREATE SPACE. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  42. ^ "Team". www.kalda.co. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  43. ^ Evans, Milly (9 June 2022). HONEST: Everything They Don't Tell You About Sex, Relationships and Bodies. Bonnier Publishing Fiction. ISBN 978-1-4714-1117-5.
  44. ^ "Our people – The Privilege Project". Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  45. ^ "Great Love has many voices - GREAT Campaign". greatcampaign.com. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  46. ^ "Login". Instagram. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  47. ^ "Rainbrows season 2 is back!". Benefit Cosmetics. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  48. ^ Culture, Matter Of (16 June 2021). "#MatterOfCultureHonors LGBTQ+ Pride — June 2021". Medium. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  49. ^ "DYCP: Successful applicants | Arts Council England". www.artscouncil.org.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  50. ^ "The story of 50 years of Pride in the UK through 50 trailblazers". GAY TIMES. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
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