Our people

Jeff Cagandahan
Asia representative of the Intersex Steering Committee
Elected at ILGA Asia Conference, Kathmandu, February 2025

Jeff Cagandahan (he/him) is a pioneering Filipino intersex man and human rights activist known for his landmark legal victory in 2008, when the Supreme Court of the Philippines recognised his right to change his name and gender marker, making him the first intersex person in the country to gain legal gender recognition.

Born in 1981 and assigned female at birth, Jeff was diagnosed with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a condition that led to the development of male physical traits during adolescence. His case emphasised the right to self-determination and became a cornerstone for intersex rights in the Philippines.

He is the Co-founder of Intersex Philippines and a Board Member of Intersex Asia, playing key roles in advancing intersex human rights across the region. Jeff has been outspoken about the need for awareness, healthcare access, and societal inclusion for intersex people.