On August 19th Caster Semenya burst onto the world scene with her record breaking 800 meter run. But for Semenya, known as The Pride of South Africa, it was a race that was quickly contested when the International Association of Athletics Federations ordered tests be done to verify her gender, thus sparking a cacophony of accusations, speculation and misinformation. On today's panel we ask, "what makes a woman?". We're joined by Janet Green, boardmember at the Accord Alliance, Katie Baratz, a medical student at the University of Pennsylvania and advocate for people with Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, Staceyann Chin, poet, activist and author of The Other Side of Paradise and Sherry Wolf, author of Sexuality and Socialism: History and Politics of Gay Liberation. Next, this week's Got Docs? features Zombie Girl. Filmmakers Justin Johnson, Aaron Marshall, and Erik Mauck came across an ad proclaiming, "Need 12-15 year-olds for zombie movie directed by twelve-year-old girl." That girl, one Emily Hagins, was in the midst of making a feature-length zombie movie and 'Zombie Girl: The Movie', takes us all along for the ride, with her parents, her friends, and her dream to direct a scary movie. Then, the President's making a speech at Human Rights Campaign on the eve of the National Equality March. Staceyann Chin and Sherry Wolf are joined by radio host Aiyi’nah Ford who was recently kicked out of a DC diner after engaging in a public display of affection with her partner. Finally, Erika Lopez, artist and author performs The Welfare Queen. Erika is an artist and the author of Flaming Iguanas. Thanks to One Drop Foundation, Sweet Honey In the Rock, Samantha Schutz and J. Bob Alotta for video in tonight's show.
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Year in Review: What Makes a Woman?
No doubt one of the stories of 2009 was the ordeal of South African runner Caster Semenya, forced to undergo humiliating "gender testing" after her breathtaking victory. On the eve of the National Equality March, we looked at the tired old assumptions about male and female, heterosexuality and homosexuality. We wrote then:
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