These toilet signs at the University of Innsbruck are fake
At the end of January 2023, photos of copied signs were circulating online in at the University of Innsbruck. Toilets for all genders are shown on it. However, the university itself described the signs as fake. They have not been posted by the university. Student organizations also confirmed to AFP that the photos do not show real signs from the University of Innsbruck.
Dozens of users shared photos and reports on the alleged signs in of the University of Innsbruck on Facebook (here, here). Also a German language blog articlereported from the alleged signageas well as politicians from the right-wing populist party FPÖ, among them Markus AbwertgerState party chairman of the FPÖ Tyrol, and Martin GrafMP I am National Council of the FPÖ. The Austrian news portal “oe24” reported from the signs and Abwerzger’s reaction.
The claim: “WC All Gender” is supposed to be on a sign read at the University of Innsbruck. It is said that the toilet is open to everyone. A men’s toilet can be found nearby. The FPÖ politician Markus Abwerzger amused himself on Twitter about the sign. “to die Uni Innsbruck has now finally succumbed to left-wing wokeism,” wrote the Ring of Freedom Students (RFS) about the sign on Facebook.
Facebook screenshot of claim: January 27, 2023
The debate about non-discriminatory toilets has been going on in the media for several years (here, here, Hhere). During some opt for so-called unisex toilets, which are independent of the gender can be used, use, speak themselves other for the preservation of classic sanitary facilities.
An important role in the debate play trans and intersex people, often dying from discrimination are affected. to die Trans*Inter*Counseling Center defines the term “trans*” as an umbrella term for people who “do not identify or only partially identify with the gender they were given at birth”. The designation “inter*” comprehend people with innate physical sex characteristicswhich “do not correspond to the widespread social and medical ideas of male or female bodies”.
signs are fake
One keyword search after the terms “University of Innsbruck” and “All Gender” AFP leads to a thread the university’s official Twitter account. there explains the university on January 25, 2023 on the photos circulating online: “These signs are fake and apparently part of a staging, so no signage by the university.”
The university also writes on Twitter that it is a coordinated action to “start an absurd discussion”. The University confess committed to diversity and gender equality.
When asked by AFP, a spokesman for the University of Innsbruck said on January 27, 2023 that it was not yet known who was responsible for the action. to die four present Unisex toilets of the university are also labeled differently. The speaker accompanies a photo of the relevant toilets. Only the inscription “WC” can be seen on it without any further additions:
Photo of a unisex toilet at the University of Innsbruck, provided by the University of Innsbruck
In other photos of the university, some of the fake signs have even been taped over again. The stickers say: “There are only two genders“. These pictures are probably the “second part of the staging”speculates the University of Innsbruck.
Twitter screenshot of Innsbruck University profile: January 30, 2023 ( Saladin SALEM)
to die Junos of the University of Innsbruck, the youth organization of the liberal Austrian party Neos, reported on Instagram on January 25, 2023 about the circulating photos of “All Gender WCs”. After the student organization initially praised the signs, they corrected themselves. Now the post contains a note that the signs are fake. They were not “appointed by the university”.
Lukas Schobesberger, deputy Junos federal chairman and deputy Chairman of the Austrian universitylearnernschaft Innsbruck, told AFP on January 27, 2023: “At the time of publication, we were not yet aware that this was a fake signage and from our knowledge of some discussions at the university from my role as deputy student union chairman, we thought that this one cause something really moved.”
However, it is known that the university has converted some toilets into unisex toilets anyway. The university also communicates this. However, Schobesberger cannot explain how the action could have taken place without anyone noticing, especially through dying security technology.
Conclusion: The photos of toilet signs circulating online in from the University of Innsbruck are fake. This was confirmed by a spokesman for the university and called the action a “staging”. who die for action responsible for, is currently unclear. photos of the real ones Unisex-Toilets at the university show that these are only labeled with the designation “WC”. are.