NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND KATIE COURIC CHRONICLE THE GENDER REVOLUTION WITH MOVING HUMAN STORIES IN TWO-HOUR DOCUMENTARY

Two-Hour Documentary Hosted and Executive Produced by Couric to Premiere Feb. 6 at 9/8c Timed to National Geographic Magazine January Single-Topic Issue Exploring Gender Issues Around the Globe

(WASHINGTON, D.C. - DECEMBER 15, 2016) - It used to appear so simple for many of us: you were a boy or you were a girl. Girls wore pink, and boys wore blue; girls played with dolls, and boys played with trucks. Yet around the globe, these traditional notions of gender are changing rapidly, and labels are no longer so clear cut. National Geographic sets out to explore this evolving concept of gender through the lens of science, society and culture in the groundbreaking new two-hour documentary GENDER REVOLUTION: A JOURNEY WITH KATIE COURIC, premiering Monday, Feb. 6, at 9/8c. Produced by Katie Couric Media with National Geographic Studios and World of Wonder Productions, the special will also air on National Geographic around the globe in 171 countries and in 45 languages.

GENDER REVOLUTION will explore the complexities of gender in everyday life, from the moment we are born through our twilight years. To better understand this complex social and scientific issue, Couric crisscrossed the U.S. to talk with scientists, psychologists, activists, authors and families to learn more about the role of genetics, brain chemistry and modern culture on gender fluidity. With conversations that range from the scientifically enlightening to the deeply personal, Couric's unflinching search for truth sheds light on countless untold stories of struggle, understanding, ignorance, hurt and love.

"It's hard to avoid hearing about some aspect of gender these days. Every time you check your phone, turn on the TV or scan Twitter, there's another story that's challenging our preconceived notions of what gender is, how it's determined and the impact these new definitions are having on society," said Couric. "I set out on a journey to try to educate myself about a topic that young people are living with so effortlessly - and get to know the real people behind the headlines. Because the first step to inclusiveness and tolerance is understanding."

Among those Couric meets on her journey are the following:

· Georgiann Davis, an activist who explores how intersex traits are defined, experienced and contested in contemporary U.S. society; intersexuality is a condition doctors estimate affects one in every 1,500 to 2,000 births

· Dr. Joshua Safer, an endocrinologist engaged in clinical research who addresses a lack of knowledge on medical topics regarding transgender-identified individuals

· Kristina Olson, the director of the Transyouth Project, an organization conducting a 20-year study of hundreds of young transgender and gender-nonconforming kids, as she visits a 12-year-old participant in the study who is considering medications intended to delay the betraying signs of puberty

· Transgender individuals of almost every generation - from a 4-year-old in Washington, D.C., to a retiree in California - who with their families face unique challenges as the result of their evolving gender identities

· Michaela Mendelsohn, a trans woman who owns six franchise businesses around Los Angeles and who, in response to tragically high jobless rates among transgender people, has dedicated her efforts to hire and promote trans workers at her restaurants

· Celebrity activists and pioneers such as tennis star Renee Richards and model and actress Hari Nef

· Gavin Grimm, a trans teen whose lawsuit seeking equal bathroom access is headed to the Supreme Court

· Countless other doctors and scientists who are on the frontlines of gender issues helping shape medical, social and psychological well-being

Further enhancing Couric's intimate conversations are innovative graphics and animations that will help viewers understand the physiological nature of sex and gender like never before.

The broadcast premiere of GENDER REVOLUTION will come on the heels of the January 2017 issue of National Geographic magazine. The entire single-topic issue will be devoted to examining gender from different perspectives, providing a 360-degree look at what gender means in science and in social systems and civilizations throughout the world. With powerful storytelling through text, photographs, maps and graphics, paired with video and other content online, the issue will address gender identity and sexuality, coming of age for children in various cultures and the threats that those with certain gender identities face worldwide, among other topics. The January issue will be available on print newsstands beginning Dec. 27 and online in its entirely at www.natgeo.com/genderrevolution on Jan. 3.

National Geographic is also developing a comprehensive discussion guide for schools and young adult groups to help guide conversation around the themes and topics covered in both the documentary and the magazine. This guide will be available for download beginning in January on www.natgeo.com/genderrevolution.

For more information, please visit www.natgeotvpressroom.com or use #GenderRevolution on social media.

GENDER REVOLUTION is produced by Katie Couric Media, World of Wonder Productions and National Geographic Studios for National Geographic. For Katie Couric Media, executive producers are Katie Couric and Mitch Semel. For World of Wonder, Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato and Jeremy Simmons serve as executive producers. For National Geographic Studios, executive producers are Jeff Hasler and Brian Lovett. For National Geographic, Tim Pastore is president, original programming and production, and Michael J. Miller is executive producer.

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About National Geographic Partners LLC

National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic's media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children's media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 128 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers ... and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 171 countries and 45 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

Katie Couric Media

Katie Couric Media develops and produces content, programming and documentaries for TV networks and digital distribution platforms, focusing on compelling issues the award-winning journalist and best-selling author has covered throughout her career. Katie Couric Media projects include the "Katie Couric" podcast from Earwolf, which features the host in candid, unscripted conversations about American life and politics; the National Geographic documentary GENDER REVOLUTION; and the upcoming movie "Flint" with Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, about the drinking water contamination in Flint, Michigan. Katie Couric is the executive producer of "Fed Up" (2014) and "Under the Gun" (2016), both documentaries that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

World of Wonder Productions

Innovative and Emmy(R) award-winning production company World of Wonder is behind such hit series as "RuPaul's Drag Race" (Logo), "Million Dollar Listing" (Bravo), "Big Freedia" (Fuse) and "Island Hunters" (HGTV). World of Wonder has also created award-winning films and documentaries such as "Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures," "Inside Deep Throat," "The Eyes of Tammy Faye," "Wishful Drinking," "Monica in Black and White" and "The Last Beekeeper," which won an Emmy(R) award for Outstanding Nature Programming. Seven of the company's films have premiered at the Sundance Film festival, including "Becoming Chaz" and "Party Monster," the documentary and feature film starring Macaulay Culkin. World of Wonder has created a substantial digital footprint with its YouTube channel, WOWPresents, along with an award-winning blog, "The WOW Report. Co-founders Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey authored "The World According to Wonder," celebrating 22 years of production, which can be found online at http://worldofwonder.net/.