Some families live with a heavy secret, one that even their own children may never learn about—despite the fact that it concerns them directly and fundamentally.

Grace Hughes-Hallett’s The Secret of Me, which was screened at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, left audiences with a knot in their stomachs. The reason? It is almost unimaginable that something like this is still happening today.

The documentary sheds light on an issue that remains taboo: so-called “corrective” surgeries on intersex infants. (Intersex refers to individuals born with natural variations in sex characteristics that do not fit the typical medical definitions of male or female bodies). Essentially, the surgeon, in consultation with the family, decides the child’s gender and subjects them to irreversible surgeries—usually multiple and extremely painful—so they can conform to one of the two binary sexes. And this happens at an age when the child is incapable of consenting or making any choice of their own.

The Story of Jim Ambrose

The documentary focuses on the story of Jim Ambrose, who was born in Louisiana in 1976. He was born with a very small phallus, and doctors decided to remove his testes and raise him as a girl. Thus, he was given the name Kristi and raised as the family’s daughter—without ever knowing the truth about his body. But from an early age, things didn’t feel right. As he grew older, the sense of dissonance deepened. He loved soccer, was attracted to women, and felt a constant alienation from himself.

Jim Ambrose and the documentary’s creator, Grace Hughes-Hallett

As a teenager, Kristi underwent a painful surgery to create a vagina using part of the large intestine—a procedure she describes on camera as both a physical and psychological nightmare. The truth about her body was revealed to her by chance when, as a university student, she attended a class on intersex individuals. As she read through the material, something felt eerily familiar—like pieces of a puzzle falling into place. She started researching her medical records and discovered she had been born with male chromosomes. “I was overwhelmed with rage; I felt like I was boiling inside,” she says in the documentary.

Jim left his family behind and embarked on a personal crusade to uncover the truth while joining a group of intersex activists in a fight to end “corrective” surgeries.

The Dark Legacy of Dr. John Money

Jim’s story is intertwined with the dark legacy of Dr. John Money, a renowned psychology professor who promoted the theory that gender is a social construct. He argued that if you raise a child as a boy or girl, they will internalize the assigned gender, meaning biological sex is less important than upbringing. This theory became the foundation for decades of medical practices that imposed “corrective” surgeries on intersex infants.

The most shocking case involving Money was that of the Reimer twins. In 1965, after one of the boys suffered a botched circumcision, Money convinced the parents to raise him as a girl—Brenda—claiming that gender identity was primarily shaped by environment and upbringing. He even subjected the twins to disturbing experiments, making them watch pornographic material and mimic sexual acts to “reinforce” their gender identities.

However, despite undergoing surgery and being raised as a girl, Brenda exhibited behaviors and preferences more aligned with being a boy. In adolescence, she experienced severe psychological distress, leading her parents to reveal the truth. Brenda then chose to live as a male, taking the name David. The story ended in tragedy: the twin who underwent the gender reassignment procedure took his own life at the age of 38, while his brother died from a drug overdose.

Video on the Reimer Case and the Dark Role of Dr. Money

The tragic outcome of the Reimer case cast serious doubt on Money’s theories about the role of socialization in gender identity, highlighting the undeniable significance of biological factors.

Jim Ambrose Confronts the Doctor Who Made Him a Girl

The most intense moment in the documentary is Jim Ambrose’s confrontation with the doctor who decided to reassign his gender. In an emotionally charged scene, Jim sits across from the man who irrevocably altered his life:

• “What would you have wanted me to do?” the doctor asks.
• “Let me go home just as I was.”
• “That’s what I should have done.”
• “That’s your apology?” Jim asks.
• “Of course,” the doctor replies, never actually saying the word “sorry.”

After decades of anger and suffering, Jim finally hears an admission—but one that does little to undo the damage.

A Battle That Continues

The Secret of Me, through archival footage and personal testimonies, exposes the devastating consequences of corrective surgeries on intersex infants. Despite increasing awareness, these practices continue in many countries without the consent of those directly affected. Jim Ambrose has dedicated his life to stopping these procedures, spreading the message: “No one should grow up without knowing who they truly are.”

The 27th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival

This documentary was among many featured at the 27th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, held from March 6 to March 16, 2025. Audiences had the opportunity to watch powerful stories from renowned filmmakers worldwide, while Greek productions also made a strong impression, with 71 films showcased. The festival atmosphere was electrifying, with many screenings selling out, filling theaters with viewers of all ages.