Acid Horizon Hermaphrodite Logic: A History of Intersex Liberation with Juliana Gleeson
Jun 16, 2025
Join Juliana Gleeson, author and intersex activism advocate, as she dives into the transformative world of intersex liberation. She recounts the powerful protests of the 1990s and how advocates challenged harmful medical practices. The conversation highlights the strategic use of humor within the movement, showcasing its ability to engage and inform. Gleeson also addresses the intricate legal landscape affecting intersex identities and the importance of representation in art and literature, all while intertwining personal narratives and philosophical insights.
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Sex's Expressive Political Nature
- Sex is not inherently political but is made political by agents asserting its meanings.
- Intersex activism challenges prevailing clinical norms imposed since birth, reshaping sex's expressive character.
Expressive Politics in Intersex Activism
- Intersex activism uses expressiveness as both a political and stylistic strategy to counter clinical reason.
- Humor and self-expression signal intersex people as reasoning humans, not just clinical subjects.
Boston 1996: Sardonic Intersex Protest
- Early intersex activists in Boston in 1996 protested pediatricians using sardonic wit and the term 'hermaphrodites with attitude'.
- These groups demonstrated fluency in medical discourse while challenging harmful surgeries and norms.
