Continuing my series Eye on LGBT Media, I bring you another Manga; while not specifically falling in the LGBT definition; deals with an issue close enough that I felt I should include it.
I.S. or Aiesu won the prestigious Kodansha Manga Award for Shoujo back in 2007.
I could break it to you gracefully, or use some kind of clever wordplay, adorning the fact with flashy tinsel; but there's no better way than to say it as thus: I.S. deals with the lives of the Intersex. The first several volumes follow the lives of several different individuals in a short story format. From a girl discovering she has one Testicle and one Ovary and whose intersexuality was hidden from her by her mother. To a boy who begins to develop breasts and whose body lacks any testosterone producing glands.
It's important to remember none of these characters are specifically Male or Female, but rather identify mostly as one or the other in the manga. They become extremely confused with their own bodies, until the point that they discover what intersexuality is and begin to accept themselves for what they are, while dealing with the hardship and discrimination that comes almost naturally.
The storyline continues for another 8 volumes after the initial 2. The story that's developed focuses on one person for the next 8 volumes, telling the story of the parent's and their choices; and the story of how the family dealt with the issue alongside with what her life was growing up.
Overall the series is a heart touching and enlightening read. Not only does it educate but it makes these issues understandable for anyone who reads.
It's not without it's serious thought, throughout the series the hate and hardship a lot of people that deal with these conditions go through is revealed and at many points the story is heartbreaking.
Despite the accolades the series has received in Japan it's unlikely that the series will ever receive any kind of publishing outside of its namesake country. And most likely the plight of Intersexed individuals in America will also go unknown of.
Hopefully someday a story like I.S. will be published in the United States and open the door for understanding of the difficult issue. But until that happens I'm afraid it's such a complex issue to address that no education on the issue will continue to be the norm in the USA.
I.S. has not and most likely will not ever be released outside the USA. A less than excellent translation of the series is available from the fan community, and you can read it at mangafox. But the quality of the translation pales in comparison to that of Hourou Musuko.