Aleksander Berezkin

Aleksander Berezkin (Александр Берёзкин) is a Russian intersex man, refugee, and intersex human rights activist.

He is a founder of the first Russian intersex human rights organization Association of the Russian Speaking Intersex (ARSI).

He has also started an organization, Intersex Immigrants Network, to support the human and civil rights of immigrants to the US, and those at risk of emigration.

Aleksandr was born in Novokuznetsk, Russia.

He was diagnosed with Klinefelter syndrome at the age of 17, after learning about his diagnosis directly from his physician.

He openly speaks about living with Klinefelter syndrome.

He has graduated with a BA in Sociology from Kemerovo State University and an MA in Sociology from Far Eastern State Technical University.

Aleksandr has stated that his doctor told him he will never find someone else with his intersex variation, that he should keep it a secret, and never talk about his identity with anyone.

Aleksandr started his advocacy in 2013, following a talk with Hida Viloria, working on intersex and LGBTI issues, organizing educational events for the LGBT community in Vladivostok.

In August 2013, he created Facebook group called “Association of the Russian-Speaking Intersex” (ARSI) for intersex people and allies, which further have become the first Russian intersex human rights organization.

In the following years he acted as a Russian-Speaking Intersex consultant for the United Nations Free & Equal program.

Aleksandr speaks on health and civil rights issues.

In 2014 Berezkin had to leave Russia as a result of a homophobic campaign against him.

He sought political asylum in the United States on the basis that he was an LBGTQI activist.

He was granted asylum in 2017.