The Intermediaries

The Intermediaries unearths the history of the Institute for Sexual Science in interwar Germany, the first center advocating for homosexual and transgender rights, led by Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld. Through the perspective of Dora Richter, a patient seeking to transition, the narrative explores the revolutionary gender-affirming surgeries and hormone treatments offered by the institute amidst rising nationalism and prejudice. Brandy Schillace examines the connections between early sex science, the queer rights movement, and the sociopolitical landscape of the era, highlighting the stories of LGBTQ pioneers while serving as a cautionary tale against present-day anti-trans policies.