Comedian hopes documentary dispels gender fluidity ‘hysteria’
Non-binary Toronto comedian and actor Mae Martin says their new documentary about gender fluidity feels especially relevant as transgender rights “are really under attack” in Canada and the United States.
Martin hosts “Fluid: Life Beyond the Binary,” airing Thursday as part of CBC’s “The Nature of Things” series, and says the doc will provide a “counterpoint” to dangerous myths about gender identity perpetuated on both sides of the border.
“I was excited to have a really well-produced, well-researched piece of work that would be accessible to people in all different demographics and demystify some of the hysteria around gender identity,” the 36-year-old comic said in a video call.
“(It will) show people that this is all a very ancient and natural thing and that, actually, that strict gender binary is not really the rule in nature.”
Directed by Michelle Mama, former executive producer of “Canada’s Drag Race,” and produced by Robert Lang, the documentary debunks pseudo-science and introduces the latest research showing that gender exists on a spectrum for humans and many other species.
Martin said that’s especially important at a time when laws being enacted or proposed in parts of Canada and the United States are trying to limit “lifesaving health care” and mental health care for transgender and non-binary people.
“And it’s all based around hysteria and misconceptions, like, ‘Oh they’re going to be giving sex changes to children,’ ” they said.
Martin, who had top surgery in 2021 and subsequently went on testosterone, said denying gender-affirming health care can have “dangerous” consequences.
“If you talk to any young trans people, it really becomes clear pretty quickly that this is just about people trying to be authentic and happy,” they said.
“People don’t get to those decisions lightly about undergoing any kind of medical intervention. For me, it was at a point where it felt pretty life or death.”
For the documentary, Martin interviewed biologists Joan Roughgarden and Justin Rhodes, as well as prominent primatologist Frans de Waal. They discovered many examples of gender fluidity in nature: from a hermaphroditic ginger plant to female hyenas, which are considered “intersex” because they have penises.
Martin said they were most surprised to learn that female lions, if left to care for their pride, can develop typically masculine traits.