Open letter from over 60 organizations: Austria must protect intersex children and young people

2023-05-17 03:30:32

NGOs appeal to the federal government on the occasion of the international day against homophobia, biphobia, interphobia and transphobia

Linz/Vienna (OTS) – „The federal government must finally do its job and present a law to protect intersex (VdG) children and young people. How Long should we wait?“ Luan Pertl, board member of the Association of Intersex People Austria (VIMÖ) as well as a member of Platform Intersex Austria. „To this day, intersex children and adolescents experience medical interventions that are neither self-determined nor necessary. This often leads to great suffering, trauma and physical ailments.“

More than 60 organizations and already several hundred individuals are addressing Health Minister Rauch, Justinister Zadić and Family Minister Raab with an open letter and an online petition. The ministers were appointed by the National Council in June 2021 by motion for a resolution urged to protect intersex children and adolescents from unnecessary medical interventions. The application was submitted by the members of the National Council Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic (Greens) and Nico Marchetti (ÖVP). SPÖ, Neos and FPÖ also voted in favor. According to Minister of Justice Zadić, the ÖVP has had a completed draft law since autumn 2022, as can be seen from the answer to a parliamentary question by Mario Lindner (SPÖ).

People with variations in sex characteristics (VdG) describe themselves as intersex. The Klinefelter* Inter association and the MRKH Austria self-help group also support the petition and the open letter. “If you can wait a few more years with a medical intervention, even if the diagnosis has already been made, then an operation does not necessarily have to be carried out, it would be better if you can wait and have more time to deal with it yourself. That would be of great help to many of ussays Elizabeth Higgins Pösinger, representative of the self-help group MRKH Austria (Mayer Rokitansky Küster Hauser Syndrome women* self-help group Austria).

„It is not enough to unfurl the rainbow flag on May 17 or in the month of June if work is not done to improve the living conditions of LGBTIQ people during the rest of the year. The federal government must finally present a law to protect intersex children and young people“, says Mart Enzendorfer, chairman of the platform Intersex Austria.

„Gender diversity is not a threat, but an enrichment. Children with variations in sex characteristics must finally be protected effectively“, adds Wolfgang Rögner from the association Klinefelter* Inter.

Link to the open letter:

Link to the petition: