Movie Review: What does it mean to be intersex? ‘Every Body’ sheds light on little-known subject

Movie Review: Shedding Light on the Little-Known Subject of Intersexuality in “Every Body”

With bursts of vibrant smoke and extravagant gender reveal ceremonies, the documentary “Every Body” starts off by showcasing the often ridiculous spectacle surrounding the announcement of a baby’s gender. However, as the film progresses, it delves into a much deeper and insidious issue—the societal compulsion to categorize individuals into a binary system and the detrimental effects it has on those born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t conform to traditional notions of “male” or “female.”

“Every Body,” skillfully intertwining hope and moments of joy with its sobering lessons, aims to bring about a change in this divisive mindset.

In this film, directed by Betsy Cohen, who co-directed the Oscar-nominated “RBG” about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the narrative unfolds through the stories of three main subjects. These individuals, now proud and open about their bodies and lives, share their experiences of growing up amidst confusion, secrecy, and often pain, particularly due to medically unnecessary corrective surgeries.

Backed by expert opinions, the filmmakers highlight that approximately 1.7% of the population is born with intersex traits. One such person is Alicia Roth Weigel, a political consultant and activist from Austin, Texas. Roth Weigel, a blonde with blue eyes, reveals that she used to have great success in the online dating world before openly embracing her intersex identity.

She discloses that she was born with XY chromosomes, typically associated with males, along with a vagina but without ovaries. Instead, she had testes that were surgically removed during her childhood—a procedure she bluntly refers to as castration. Roth Weigel’s seemingly happy childhood, depicted in the shared photos with friends, was overshadowed by the painful experience of pretending to menstruate by carrying tampons or being compelled by doctors to create a vaginal canal using painful methods—secrets so deep that not even her brother was aware of them.

Another subject, Sean Saifa Wall, presents birth documents that originally classified their gender as “ambiguous,” which was then crossed out and reassigned as “female.” Born with a combination of male and female characteristics, Wall, like Roth Weigel, underwent a gonadectomy and was raised as a girl despite identifying as a boy.

The film also introduces River Gallo, a nonbinary artist and actor, who underwent a surgery at the age of 12 to have prosthetic testes implanted. Gallo, who prefers they/them pronouns, shares the story of how they told an early college girlfriend that they had testicular cancer instead of revealing the truth behind their inability to conceive.

These conversations not only educate but also inspire, as they depict three individuals who have found fulfillment and purpose through their activism, which aims to prevent invasive surgeries on young children who are unable to make such decisions for themselves. The rallying cry heard at their protests is: “Unless I say so, keep the scalpels away.”

The film takes a dark turn when it delves into the life of John Money, a sexologist from Johns Hopkins University, who proposed that gender was shaped solely by social conditioning. His ideas had a profound impact on the field but also tragically influenced the life of David Reimer, known as the subject of the John/Joan case. David, one of a pair of twin boys, suffered a severe injury during a botched circumcision. After consulting with Money, David’s mother decided to raise him as a girl named Brenda.

Archival news clips depict David’s misery as a girl, tearing off dresses, and his eventual reclamation of his male gender through painful surgeries. He went on to marry a woman but tragically ended his life at the age of 38. Reimer’s mother, appearing in the clips, expresses devastation for having imposed a female identity on her son. Although Reimer was not intersex, his story deeply resonates with the subjects of Cohen’s film, who acknowledge that their own parents were simply acting in what they believed was their best interest. Cohen captures a poignant scene between Gallo and their mother, where tears are shed and an embrace shared. Nonetheless, Gallo remarks humorously, “I don’t think she’ll ever get my pronouns right.”

Towards the end of the film, reflecting on the earlier gender reveal scenes, one intersex activist expresses the hope of seeing expectant parents display a sign in their yard that is neither pink nor blue but instead yellow—a simple announcement that says, “It’s a baby.”

“Every Body,” released by Focus Features, carries an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America due to some explicit language and graphic nude images. The film has a runtime of 92 minutes and receives a rating of three out of four stars.

MPAA definition of R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about intersexuality

More about intersexuality

• Official Website of the Documentary “Every Body”
• Focus Features
• RBG Documentary Official Website
• Intersex Society of North America
• John Money on Gender: A History of an Idea
• Understanding Intersex: A Guide for Parents