I’m intersex as well as transgender, and I toe no line, whether it be transgender or anyone else. I like Sophie’s comics, I really loved them in the beginning, and while I think they do indeed highlight a lot of important points, I think that the comic takes itself too seriously at times. This is in contrast to transgirlnextdoor, which highlights some of the struggles of being trans and moving throughout the world. I used to think that anyone who was asking questions or disagreed with trans people was the enemy, but the more I listened to what people were asking, the more I realized that, just like gender is a spectrum, people’s views on us are a spectrum, as well. Some are sick of the constant media attention; others truly do find us disgusting. Others might be more accepting if they knew more of us in real life. Others disagree on religious convictions. In many other trans comics, there is true dialogue that helps those who aren’t trans or don’t understand what it means to be trans.

The name-calling is really what caused me to stop and take pause. Dr. Michael Brown, a well-known activist, got into a ‘conversation’ with someone on Twitter and he posted the conversation in one of his articles. The trans person Dr. brown spoke with did not provide Dr. Brown with anything new; rather, this person reinforced the stereotypes of being angry and militant.

I recognize I may be different because I was born intersex (you can look at my narrative on my page if you’d like), but I agree with you on many of your points here. One exception I must make is where you discuss the artwork of Assigned Male: I think that Sophie’s style of artwork is unique and hers, much like the waif-type eyes are a trademark of Margaret Keene, much as the complex and confusing story arches of Doonsbury are characteristic of Garry Trudeau. One can say the same with any type of medium; the long rambling sentences and story arches of Thomas Pynchon’s novel ‘Gravity’s Rainbow’ are evident in ‘Mason & Dixon’ as well. Others are put out by Hemingway’s tight prose narrative. Sophie’s style is unique and hers, and I think you’re a little too harsh on her for that.

  • Sedgy

    Stacy (Sedgy) Sedgewood

    Written by

    An Intersex bohemian in Boston finding their way in a scary world! Writer, professor, musician, tomboy, confident coffee-drinker, casual conversationalist