Newswise —

UNLV sociology professor Georgiann Davis has racked up thousands of web hits with personal essays exploring how intersex and LGBTQ people fit into American society.

Since 2008, Davis, who was born with complete androgen insensitive syndrome — meaning she has an outward female appearance, but possesses XY chromosomes — has studied how the intersex community deals with everything from the medical community to marriage to young child/parent relationships.

Davis’ work has appeared in publications ranging from Ms. Magazine to the American Journal of Bioethics. She is past president of one of the largest support groups in the country for intersex people, their families, and allies.

Regarding the Pentagon order allowing transgender people to openly serve in the military, she says: "Lifting this ban is symbolic more than anything else, for thousands of trans folks who have served, or are serving, in our military. It's the right move, but the masculine culture of the military may prevent trans folks affiliated with the military from comfortably and openly identifying as trans."