“Female, male and… diverse?” – Book Presentation and Panel Discussion at the IPU Berlin

MANN_INTER_FRAU (MAN_INTER_WOMAN) (Photo and sculpture: Fabian Vogler)

On 7 November 2018, a panel discussion and book presentation entitled “Female, male and… diverse?” took place at the International Psychoanalytic University (IPU) Berlin. The anthology and illustrated book “Die Schönheiten des Geschlechts: Intersex im Dialog” [The Beauties of Gender: Intersex in Dialogue], edited by Katinka Schweizer and Fabian Vogler and published this year by CAMPUS, was presented. It comprises a large number of inter- and transdisciplinary contributions to the title theme and numerous bronze works by the sculptor Fabian Vogler, as well as artistic interventions by other international artists. Continue reading ““Female, male and… diverse?” – Book Presentation and Panel Discussion at the IPU Berlin”

Expert day at the Ministry of Justice on 16 October 2018

On Tuesday, 16 October 2018, an expert day on the protection of intersex-born children took place at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Berlin with lived-experience experts and specialists. The subject was the discussion of  legal provisions for the protection of children with variations in sex development against gender-normalising medical interventions.

The current coalition agreement (of the CDU, CSU and SPD) from 12 March 2018 contains the following wording and objective on the subject: “We will make it legally clear that gender-normalising medical interventions on children are only permitted in urgent, life-threatening cases” (p. 21, lines 797–799). Further information can be found at:   https://www.bmjv.de/DE/Startseite/Startseite_node.html

Inter-sex gets positive: Landmark decision of the Federal Constitutional Court

A reason to celebrate – persistence pays off!

“Yes to the third sex” (SZ), “Neither man nor woman”, “The future – unisex?” (FAZ), “Revolutionary” (Die Welt), “Three wins” (taz) – Headlines translated from German from 8 November 2017

 

The plaintiff, Vanja, did not give up. Only a year ago, her_his lawsuit was rejected by the Federal Court of Justice. Now the judges of the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe, the highest court in the country, have ruled in her_his favour. In the constitutional complaint, Vanja brought an action against the current Personal Status Code, which previously only allowed two positive sex markers and, since 2013, a further, “empty” sex marker. Continue reading “Inter-sex gets positive: Landmark decision of the Federal Constitutional Court”

Positive response and constructive debate at the HOOU: Successful intersex symposium at UKE

The symposium “Intersex Controversies” on 22 November 2017 was the second symposium hosted by the HOOU Intersex-Kontrovers project. The response was tremendous and the ballroom in Erika-Haus at the UKE in Hamburg was fully booked. Prof. Peer Briken, Director of the Institute for Sex Research and Forensic Psychiatry at the UKE, opened the event.The initiator, Dr Katinka Schweizer, was delighted that so many people accepted the invitation. She introduced the host project along with all the guests, and moderated throughout the afternoon. Continue reading “Positive response and constructive debate at the HOOU: Successful intersex symposium at UKE”