What I’ve learned from having balls. | Emily Quinn | TEDxProvidence

Emily Quinn has balls, literally. At age 10 she found out she was intersex (that her biology isn’t strictly male or female) and she was told not to tell anyone about it. In this brave, vulnerable talk Emily shares what it’s like to carry the burden of shame while navigating a world where nobody understood her body. Her experience teaches us that bodies are a lot more diverse and complicated than we make them out to be, and leaves us with one question: what's so bad about being different? Emily Quinn is an artist, author, and intersex activist. She received her BFA in Animation in 2012 and worked at Cartoon Network on the Emmy Award winning show, Adventure Time. While there she partnered with interACT and MTV to develop the first intersex main character in television history. She came out publicly as intersex in a PSA alongside the character’s debut, which launched her into the national spotlight as an intersex person. She has since been featured in an array of media, including Teen Vogue, the Washington Post, Buzzfeed, Vice, Huffington Post, PopSugar, and many more.

[matteofalduto]

What ruined this girl's youth has not been having some "wrong" organs inside her, but having the wrong "friends" around her.

[tangoz]

As a doctor I would like to say thank you for giving me an insight into what people who are intersex go through.. And that I admire your courage for standing in front of the world and expressing your true nature.

[ChrisM-hxkv]

One of my close friends is intersex. When she told all of us, we just shrugged and said, we could care less you are still the same person and our friend. She cried because expected us to all freak out and shun her. It is now many years later and she has met the person of her dreams and is happily married.

[arisoapi]

when i was in foster care, and my parents learned that i wasn't female was when i was 9; due to me growing other parts later on. from there, i was taught to be more feminine, and basically brainwashed into believing i was always a girl until i learned i was intersex; i was very sheltered in an overly religious home, so i barely got curious. when i came to terms and tried to stand against my parents control over me, they threw me out at 15.

however, i'm proud to say i'm in a better home now and i'm going to do a speech on intersex next week <3

[jean-victorcote]

Here is how this beautiful talk ends: "The only thing that truly needs to be fixed is the way we treat people who are different from us. We can do better." I was moved, in the right direction.

[Emilord]

I’m scared to watch! 🙈😂 Thank you for sharing my story!

[Liberperlo]

Wow! I have Turner Syndrome and I was told not to tell others because it would scare them. In the 1980s there was no groups or opportunity to meet others like me, so I was in my 20s before I ever met anyone who was XO like me. We didn't have the word intersex to call ourselves either- just 'chromosomal disorder' and needing medical care. I am so glad that now we can discuss, YouTube and openly talk about these issues, and that young adults usually don't need to be educated like the doctors I've had.

One of the best things I have done is to be involved with establishing the Turner Syndrome Society of the USA when I was younger.

Thanks again! You don't need testes or ovaries (I don't have either) to have balls!

[Ab-gxqp]

I don't understand why would anyone react bad if she told them about her body. I was born and raised in a poor country in Europe, we learned about this in 7th grade maybe 25yrs ago and the teacher was smart and sensitive enough to tell us it's rare but it does happen. She didn't spoke about intersex as some kind of a disease or something to hide or be ashamed about.
People in rich countries think you can't get a good education in poor countries, but here we are 🤷‍♀️

[DivineKnight_]

the fact that there are so many forms of intersex people there are just goes to show how delicate of a recipe hormones, genes, and all that stuff really is...

[StuartCant]

What a brave and articulate young woman. She has been treated badly and yet asks only for people to be understanding and fair. Bravo.

[TNTTruth]

" The only thing that needs to be fixed is the way we treat people who are different than us!" Right On!

[drefc]

I very much appreciate you sharing your story. I am a physician and found your comments on “unnecessary”physical exams to be informative. Physicians are trained that a good exam is critical to good medical care. More physicians have been criticized for not adequately examining the patient than for examining them. When you visited the surgeon I would have expected a very thorough physical exam before you were given any personal surgical advice. I don’t think most physicians mean any disrespect when they ask to examine you regarding pertinent questions. They are concerned about being accused of negligence if they do not examine you. Failure to perform a good exam has been the source of many legal problems for physicians.
You are a great spokesperson for others who share your concerns.

[jessejames]

I am 77 years old, and have yet to meet another intersex person. I don't know if anybody knew that i was intersex, because anybody who could tell me was gone already. I found out about myself a bout 10 years ago. All the years before, when asked as a kid, why i was the way I was, the answer was that some people are just different. I was forced to live a life as a male person, a guy with a female looking body! About 10 years ago, I changed into my real gender, I am a happy woman now.
I am like you, I never had acne or body hair, or oily skin, and I am happy about this, because I still do not have to shave.
I hope that your work will help that kids are allowed to grow up free from any societal pressure. I missed out on a life as a female, because some doctor though my genitals look male. I hope no other kid has to experience this!
Good luck for you!

[caymenprice]

I’m just crying it’s cool. My dad just send this to me to tell me he’s proud of me and everything I’ve been through. Thank you.

[jascarson]

Have we not evolved enough to stand and applaud, to recognize that Emily Quinn is a beautiful, sensitive and kind human who embodies the best of humankind. May you find peace, serenity & happiness

[Gichanasa]

With 2% of the population being intersex according to the talk... it took way too long to have these conditions to become known.

[BethBoots]

My youngest granddaughter is intersex and thankfully her parents aren’t going to “fix” her supposed issues🙌🏽🥺 I’m so proud of my daughter and her husband for understanding that she’s absolutely perfect and doesn’t need surgical or hormonal intervention. I’m not saying this is the case for all intersex children or adults but I’m seeing that it is usually the case, Dr trying to fix what isn’t “normal” instead of worrying about the patients health both mental and physical, they are totally focused on the norm🥺 I promise you my 6 month old Granddaughter is perfect 🥰

[am_ppe]

It's crazy to me how little people seem to know about intersex and how much stigma comes with it.
A couple years ago, when i was 16, we had a class about the biological definition of gender and i remember there was a whole paragraph about intersex people and how XY genes don't always define the gender of an individual.
I guess what i'm trying to say is that minds are changing (my teacher was pretty old and she taught us about intersex in quite an objective way) and it makes me happy

[operachild]

The fact that there are so many doctors in this woman's story who are so uneducated on the condition has me worried for the sake of the medical community. Intersexuality isn't all that rare. I remember learning about it in neuroanatomy during undergrad. The doctors knew about it, they were just blinded by prejudice.

[mrsdoyle]

Her comments about doctors satisfying their own curiosity by doing unnecessary examinations really rang a bell. Anyone with an unusual condition will recognise that.