Maya Posch's Timeline

This page shows the timeline of important events in my life, explained in more detail where necessary. Items are in reverse chronological order.

• 2013
  • Significant media attention after decision by Germany to introduce a 'third gender' for intersex children. Appearances on Dutch talk show Pauw & Witteman, Channel 4 News, TIME and Vice magazine.
  • Second hearing against the VUmc gender team on September the 24th. This was a public hearing at the medical disciplinary commission in Amsterdam.
  • Maya decided to move to Germany by the end of the year after getting a job there.
  • First (closed) hearing against the VUmc gender team takes place on February 10th at the medical disciplinary commission in Amsterdam.
• 2012
  • Many media appearances on TV, radio and in newspapers as the lawsuit against the Dutch hospitals is being readied.
  • In late March Maya becomes the first legally recognized hermaphrodite in the Netherlands and Europe who is also allowed to carry a 'female' designation despite keeping her male genitals.
  • The lawyer for Maya's legal gender change reports that the judge agreed to the request, based on the article for intersex people (1:24 BW), giving it a far wider interpretation than originally intended.
  • Second personal injuries lawyer is found in Yme Drost, a well-known and well-regarded expert.
  • The personal injuries lawyer rejects the case at the advice of her medical advisor who claims that it is not possible to determine whether someone is intersex.
  • Media appearance in Belgian magazine Dag Allemaal
  • Legal action is pursued against Maya for the incident in early 2011.
• 2011
  • Contacted a personal injuries lawyer to prosecute the Dutch hospitals.
  • Via a German friend she ends up in Hamburg, where Dr. Pottek performs the orchiectomy as well as an exploratory surgery during which he determines that Maya does in fact have a closed-off vagina. A biopsy of the testicular tissue shows atrophied tissue with no sperm-producing tissue present.
  • Maya decides to try and get a legal gender change to female, so that her official gender matches her outward appearance. At the advice of Dr. Zweers of the ZGT Almelo hospital she goes to Germany to have the required orchiectomy performed.
  • Maya sends multiple letters to the Dutch Queen Beatrix, the first of which is forwarded to the Dutch Minister of Health, who responds using a curt message, referring judgement to the Dutch physicians and the protocols by WPATH and the "Consensus Statement on Management of Intersex Disorders".
  • The charges against Maya of threats involving bodily harm towards the family doctor are dropped. An examination by the justice department is started to determine whether Maya was responsible for her actions.
  • Second family doctor accepts her as patient, but fails to recognize the existence of PTSD and other traumatic disorders in Maya, fail to fullfil their obligations and trigger a severe DID episode in Maya. Maya gets arrested by the police and spends a night in a holding cell.
  • First family doctor contacted in Rijssen rejects her as a patient for being intersex.
  • Media appearance in German magazine Maxi.
  • Suicide attempt using sleeping pills in January. Moved back in with mother in Rijssen. Difficult months follow with the mental healthcare system failing to prevent further suicide attempts, suicidal urges and self-mutilation.
• 2010
  • Court approved legal first name change to Maya.
  • More media appearances. Appearance on Dutch national TV in the show 'Je zal het maar zijn' from the TV channel BNN, coinciding with the last visit to the UMCG involving a urological examination which turned out to be highly disappointing too. Nothing was supposed to be out of the ordinary.
  • In January Maya had an MRI scan performed at the OLVG hospital in Amsterdam after four of its radiologists judged that the MRI scans presented so far were too unclear. This third scan would show nothing unusual indicating intersex, according to the OLVG radiologist.
• 2009
  • The UMCG determined that the MRI scans didn't show anything unusual. The black tube on the scans would be air inside the rectum or the front wall.
  • At Maya's request a second tissue was tested and also showed 46,XY according to the UMCG. This would mean a 99% exclusion rate according to them.
  • The UMCG gender team prescribed hormones so that Maya didn't have to order these online any more. A mosaic test would be performed, yet this was only done on white blood cells and an exclusion rate of 75% was claimed of Maya being a mosaic.
  • Went to the UMCG hospital, in Groningen, the Netherlands.
  • Multiple TV and magazine appearances.
  • Final appointment at VUMC gender team. Despite indications by Maya that endocrinologist De Ronde should not be present the latter was present during this appointment. De Ronde insisted that Maya should cease looking for answers and was in his words 'just a feminine-looking male'.
• 2008
  • First appearance on Dutch local TV (Omroep Flevoland).
  • Multiple appointments with psychiatrist Gijs of the VUMC gender team. He'd discuss the possibility of medical examinations on Maya with the rest of the gender team.
  • Visited AMC hospital in Amsterdam. Appointment with sexologist after many appointments with an internist. Sexologist confirmed absence of symptoms of transsexuality. Report made together with the VUMC indicated autoparagynaecophilia. Referred back to the VUMC gender team.
  • Second opinion in Germany at Duisburg clinic via PrivateScan. Results of initial German report were fully confirmed.
  • Visited Erasmus MC hospital in Rotterdam, got (accidental) second MRI scan. Both original German and new Dutch MRI scan got dismissed as not showing anything unusual.
  • Moved to Almere, the Netherlands. Rented a room at Dutch man's place who'd also help her with hospital and other matters the next years.
  • Visited the VUMC gender team again after referral by family doctor due to the MRI results. Endocrinologist De Ronde of the VUMC dismissed the results, saying they had not seen anything unusual on the scan images. Maya left the VUMC for the 3rd time.
  • Stayed at acquaintance's home in Zaandam, the Netherlands, for a month. Learned to accept that she had been raped and stopped blaming herself. Sent MRI report to Dutch family doctor.
  • Forced to return to the Netherlands despite having arranged an apartment in Canada. Inability to get a permanent/extended visa.
• 2007
  • Left for Canada with the intention to migrate permanently.
  • Dutch acquaintance pointed Maya to PrivateScan; using its services she underwent an MRI scan in Germany on December 21st, 2007. The conclusion by the private clinic was that Maya is a hermaphrodite, with a closed-off vagina in addition to male genitals.
  • Went to Norway for five weeks during September/October and visited an acquaintance. Major (positive) impact on self-esteem despite some lesser experiences. First time traveling alone.
  • Ordered medication for hormone therapy via online store in March, received them in April. Correct dose of estradiol and testosterone blocker was determined using blood test. Results were interpreted by Maya as the family doctor didn't wish to be involved. Testosterone level turned out to be 25% of regular male level.
  • In February the second appointment took place with this psychologist, this time the six months were enforced, hormone therapy was not an option. Maya canceled her outstanding appointments and left the VUMC gender team severely disappointed.
  • In January first appointment at VUMC gender team with new psychologist, Maya got told that she didn't have to do the full minimum of six months of talks, could start with hormone therapy, etc.
• 2006
  • Half a year of appointments with Zutphen psychiatrist. Maya got told 'You are deluding yourself' during first appointment, told that she could not be intersex and finally convinced to pretend to be transsexual at the VUMC again.
  • Became the victim of rape at the hands of a 'friend'.
  • Started own game and software development company, called Nyanko.
  • Quit college studies after six months due to disappointments with the lack of challenge and freedom.
  • Follow-up appointment with first psychologist. Repeated assumptions by VUMC that Maya wanted to become a woman. Communication between family doctor and VUMC showed the assumption of transsexuality. Redirected to psychiatrist in the city of Zutphen.
  • Examination by gynaecologist of VUMC gender team. Nothing unusual was claimed to have been found which would point to Maya being intersex. The hormone levels were also supposedly measured and found to be normal for a male.
  • Assumed the first name of Maya for non-official purposes.
• 2005
  • Started college studies in the nearby city of Enschede.
  • Had initial appointment with psychologist of VUMC gender team. Maya's question was whether she was intersex as assumed.
  • Forced to call for follow-up appointment after waiting half a year. They had forgotten.
  • Went to gender team of VUMC, in Amsterdam, in early 2005. Passed intake.
  • Realized never having chosen for a female/male role. Assumed transsexuality for a few days, then found out about intersex via internet research.
• 2004
  • Moved to Rijssen with mother and younger brother during December 2004.
  • Moved to nearby city of Hoorn with mother and younger brother during the first half of 2004.
• 2003
  • Parents divorced.
• 2002
  • Graduated from High School (HAVO).
  • Found to be gifted during examination at the Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen (KUN).
• 1983
  • Born on September 4th, 1983 in a small village near the city of Hoorn, Netherlands. Named Thijs Posch, designated male.