Expo 'Intersekse – 1 op de 90''

Bureau Equal Treatment Flevoland brings the exhibition 'Intersex – 1 in 90' to Lelystad. From August 31 to September 20, the outdoor exhibition will be on display at the Agorahof, next to the famous Agora Theater. The exhibition shows images and tells the story of 21 intersex people between the ages of 2.5 and 81 years old. They are willing to go public with their underexposed story. Journalist Lara Aerts interviewed the subjects, photographer Ernst Coppejans made the beautiful images and the Open Mind Foundation produced the exhibition and the magazine.

The exhibition shows images and tells the story of 21 intersex individuals aged between 2.5 and 81 years old. They are willing to bring their underexposed story to the public. Journalist Lara Aerts interviewed the portrayed individuals, photographer Ernst Coppejans took the beautiful images, and Open Mind Foundation produced the exhibition and the magazine.

Intersex represents the I in LGBTQIA+. A large group of Dutch people is born with a body that is different from what we are used to with men or women. These people have characteristics of both. This group has the desire to increase societal awareness about intersex and the existence of sex diversity.

Secret

While we are getting more and more accustomed to people who don't fit into standard boxes, a large group of Dutch people still live with a secret. They are born with a body that is different from what we are used to with men or women. Sometimes this is visible at birth, it is then unclear whether a boy or girl is born. Much more often, you don't see anything on the inside. Then the variation is inside and it only comes to light later.

Medical intervention

The official policy regarding intersex was for many years: keep it a secret and possibly correct it surgically and/or hormonally. Gradually, there is more openness and medical practice changes along with it. But the idea that it is better to grow up as a boy or a girl and that medical intervention can sometimes be desirable is still prevalent.

Relief

What is it like to live in a world divided into men and women while you have physical characteristics of both? Kevin, 23, feels 100% male, while Samantha (39) embraces both the male and female within herself. And where Ket (81) experiences intersex as a disorder, Leonne (61) calls it a sex variation. If the exhibition proves anything, it's that everyone experiences it differently. However, there are also parallels among those portrayed. The secrecy weighs heavily. Just like the medical interventions that people could not decide on. A common denominator is also the relief when the secret is finally broken and the environment responds unexpectedly positively! Leigh (35): 'Apparently, no one cares about what hormones or chromosomes I have.'

On one thing, all those portrayed agree: more awareness and societal consciousness must come about intersex and about the existence of sex diversity. Biological sex is a spectrum with infinite variations, much more than just male and female. It is only really safe for intersex individuals to come out when society knows that you exist. And that it is completely natural and normal to be intersex. Berthine (41): 'It's not a mistake of nature, but a force of nature.'

That's why the outdoor exhibition Intersex, 1 in 90 travels to another municipality in the Netherlands every three weeks. The series of portraits and stories can be read online and are also brought out in a magazine. In the tour schedule below, you can see where the outdoor exhibition will travel to.