I'm not blue. I'm not pink. I'm not yellow. If I must be a color I'm a lavender who doesn't stay in the lines. Isn't it time to make room in our society for more than two genders and more than 2 sexual orientations?

from Queersunited blogspot
Friday, October 24, 2008
"I'm 80% Girl, 20% Boy" - Intersex Documentary

One of our readers kindly emailed to let me know they were doing a documentary on an intersex person named Adele.

Maxx Ginnane (Director) emailed me with this:
"I am now making a full length film about intersex, including the stories of what is happening to the babies born visibly intersex and gender variant children as they grow up and approach puberty. There's currently still a debate in the medical community about how these young people should be treated. I'm seeking the input of doctors, parents, and of course, other intersex people in this project. If you would like to get in touch, my address is palya@hotmail.com"

When Adele was born they couldn't tell if she was a girl or a boy. A series of childhood genital operations 'corrected' her into a boy but as she grew up it became apparent a mistake had been made. Now at 29 Adele is trying to transition into a woman, only to find she belongs somewhere in between. 1 in 2000 babies are born like Adele and she asks if it isn't time to make room in our society for more than two genders.

comments: tenorbear2 said...

I'm 51 yrs. old and also intersexed. I was born at a time/place before forced gender assignments and infant genital mutilation. I had no surgery. My parents dressed me in green and yellow and called me "Cookie" until it became plain that I was more boy than girl. Sometime in my toddlerhood I settled into identifying as a boy and have been happy all my life. However, my body is not exactly male or female and find of both. I don't have any fertility and don't have enough sex hormones to be healthy so I've taken testosterone supplements since a teen. I never found my "ambiguous" genitals to be a barrier to sex or love. I'm exotic and exotic is sexy. I adamantly object to any genital surgery done on any intersexed child that is not absolutely medically necessary. In other words the child needs surgery to be able to achieve urinary continence. All surgery impairs sensitivity and function as should always be an option of last resort. No one NEEDS designer genitals to be a happy man or woman. Some men have a vagina and some women have a penis. That's reality. We deserve to be allowed to live in our own bodies and have sovereign control over what is and isn't done to us.

Since I think my co-workers have finally found me -- let me give ya'll a little something more to chew on. I first heard Staceyann Chin at the Gay Games in Chicago. The piece she read at Gay Games was so full of fire and truth that you probably won't ever hear it. But! I have a copy of it.
Her myspace site has 4 poems. I'm directing you to Crossfire, but listen to the rest. If you dare.

P.S. send the kids out to play with their wii.