Jinkx Monsoon Calls Out Short-Sighted, Dishonest Rhetoric in Political Debates Over Transgender Medical Care

Jinkx Monsoon, celebrated drag and theater performer, two-time RuPaul’s Drag Race winner, and recent recipient of the 2025 "Logo Legend" Award, has never shied away from using her platform to challenge misconceptions about gender and sexuality. In a recent episode of The Downside podcast hosted by comedian Gianmarco Soresi, Monsoon delivered a pointed critique of the current political discourse around transgender medical care, calling it both "short-sighted" and "dishonest" .

During the wide-ranging conversation, Monsoon—who identifies as pansexual and nonbinary—explained that much of the mainstream debate fails to reflect the lived experiences of transgender and gender-diverse people. Instead, she argued, these discussions are often shaped by those with little understanding of the subject, particularly cisgender politicians and commentators .

Monsoon’s critique centers on the observation that many political conversations about transgender health care are dominated by cisgender, often white, men who do not have personal experience with gender dysphoria or the medical needs of transgender people. "We can't have an accurate conversation about trans identity when the people making the most noise are the least affected," Monsoon said, emphasizing the disconnect between policymakers and the communities most directly impacted by these laws and debates .

This disconnect, Monsoon argued, leads to a situation where transgender and intersex people are spoken about rather than spoken with. The performer noted that this dynamic perpetuates harmful myths and misinformation, including the notion that gender-affirming medical care is experimental or inherently dangerous—a claim that is not supported by major medical organizations.

In a particularly personal moment, Monsoon shared that she suspects she may be an undiagnosed intersex person—a term referring to individuals born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not fit typical definitions of female or male . While Monsoon has not received a formal diagnosis, her openness about this possibility highlights the diversity of experiences within the LGBTQ+ community and underscores the importance of bodily autonomy and self-determination in medical care.

The performer also used her platform to draw attention to the broader context of medical procedures involving children. "People act like gender-affirming surgeries are only for trans people," Monsoon observed in a previous interview, "but the majority of gender-related surgeries in the U.S. actually happen to intersex and cisgender children—often without their informed consent" . This, she argued, exposes a double standard in how society discusses medical intervention, especially when it comes to who is allowed to make decisions about their own bodies.

Jinkx Monsoon has long used her art to challenge binary notions of gender, drawing on mythology and personal storytelling to reveal the complexities of identity. At a recent performance at Carnegie Hall, Monsoon invoked the mythic power of the divine feminine, masculine, and androgyne, inviting her audience to imagine a world beyond rigid binaries . "Trans and intersex people have always existed," she told the crowd, "and our stories are as old as time."

This perspective, she later explained, is sorely lacking in mainstream conversations about transgender rights and medical care. Rather than centering the experiences and voices of those most affected, the debate is often hijacked by those with political or ideological agendas. Monsoon called for a more inclusive, honest conversation—one that recognizes the full diversity of human experience and respects individuals’ right to make decisions about their own bodies.

By sharing her story and challenging the status quo, Monsoon hopes to encourage others to question dominant narratives and demand more honest, inclusive conversations about gender, health, and human rights. “We owe it to ourselves and each other to fight for a world where everyone—no matter their gender or anatomy—is able to make informed choices about their bodies and their lives,” she concluded on The Downside podcast .

As political debates over transgender medical care continue, Jinkx Monsoon’s words serve as a powerful reminder of the need for empathy, evidence-based policy, and the inclusion of lived experience in public discourse. The fight for transgender and intersex rights is not just about access to medical care—it is about dignity, autonomy, and the recognition of every person’s humanity .

For the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, Monsoon’s advocacy is both a call to action and a testament to the power of visibility. In the ongoing struggle for equality, representation matters—and so does the courage to speak truth to power.