High up in the Karawanken mountains lies a village no one has ever heard of. Even the hikers who believe they know every curve of the range would never suspect that, nestled between the steep peaks, a hidden, isolated community exists: QUEERinthia. Legend has it that it settled there long ago in order to live freely and self-determined – a queer, alpine utopia. This year, the community has decided to celebrate its coming out. It wants to introduce itself to the people in the valley, to bring back the diversity they are in danger of losing. To this end, a large village festival is being organized. But is the valley ready?
Based on this fictional premise, the piece QUEERinthia tells the biographies of six people from Carinthia. Accompanied by documentary film footage and music, we hear from those who have moved there, those who have left, and those who have returned, as they reflect on queer life in Carinthia. The term “queer,” once used as a slur for gay, lesbian, and trans people, as well as anyone outside the categories of man and woman, has been reclaimed over time as a proud self-designation. Queerness disrupts binary logic and opens up spaces in between. It names a border region–much like Carinthia itself. The piece is dedicated to the untold queer stories of Carinthia, speaking of pain and hope. Moving between fiction and documentary, it not only depicts oppression but also sketches a spectrum of the region’s diversity.