Vienna
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How a Passport Writes History: An Exhibition on Human Rights and Gender Identity in Austria

Uncover Alex Jürgen's historic passport, pivotal for intersex legal recognition and the journey to human rights in Austria.

This presentation delves into the profound story behind Alex Jürgen's passport, a seemingly ordinary document that became a powerful symbol for the legal recognition of intersex individuals in Austria. In 2018, Jürgen's successful legal challenge resulted in the first Austrian passport officially acknowledging gender beyond the binary. The display contextualizes this achievement by examining the historical role of passports in asserting control and reflecting societal norms. It highlights the struggles of intersex people and their fight for self-determination.

About How a Passport Writes History: A Document for the Journey to Human Rights at House of Austrian History in Vienna

Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for How a Passport Writes History: A Document for the Journey to Human Rights at House of Austrian History in Vienna

Exhibition summary

This narrative display focuses on the historic passport of Alex Jürgen, which became instrumental in the legal recognition of intersex people in Austria. It explores the significance of passports as historical documents and their role in societal perceptions of gender, control, and human rights.

Curatorial context

This presentation delves into the profound story behind Alex Jürgen's passport, a seemingly ordinary document that became a powerful symbol for the legal recognition of intersex individuals in Austria. In 2018, Alex Jürgen's successful legal challenge before the Constitutional Court resulted in the first Austrian passport officially acknowledging gender beyond the binary of male or female, using 'X'. The display contextualizes this achievement by examining the historical role of passports in both facilitating travel and asserting state control, highlighting how gender markers on official documents have reflected and reinforced societal norms and prejudices. It explores the evolution of passports from documents of privilege to tools of identification and control, underscoring the historical significance of gender categorization in these documents and its connection to broader ideas of societal order. Furthermore, the narrative sheds light on the struggles of intersex people, detailing the historical medical interventions, social pressures, and the fight for human rights. It emphasizes that the 'X' code, developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization, signifies not a third gender, but a broader recognition of gender diversity beyond the strict binary, advocating for a spectrum of human experiences. The display aims to make visible the importance of such documents as catalysts for change, driving forward the demand for legal measures that protect individuals from unnecessary medical interventions and uphold the right to self-determination of gender identity.

Admission and ticket notes

Information about admission and ticketing for the House of Austrian History can be found on their official website. Specific details about access to this particular narrative display are not provided on this page.

How a Passport Writes History: A Document for the Journey to Human Rights key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for How a Passport Writes History: A Document for the Journey to Human Rights at House of Austrian History in Vienna

Venue
House of Austrian History
Current status
Open now
Exhibition schedule
Information not currently available
Artist line / attribution
This narrative is presented through the work and advocacy of Alex Jürgen, with contributions and commentary by curators Stefan Benedik and Marianna Nenning.
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