"Clear message"

Big bang: Bavaria bans gender language

The German federal state of Bavaria prohibits gender language in schools, universities and public authorities.(Bild: Frank Lambert - stock.adobe.com)

In Bavaria, the use of gender language is prohibited in schools and public authorities. The decision is intended to keep open the "spaces for discourse in a liberal society". Civil servants are threatened with consequences in the event of violations.

At its meeting in Munich on Tuesday, the cabinet approved the necessary amendment to the General Rules of Procedure for the Authorities of the Free State of Bavaria (AGO). Although the AGO already obliges state authorities, including schools, to use the official German spelling rules in official correspondence, these rules have now been "clarified".

Ideologically influenced language
"For us, the clear message is that language must be clear and understandable," said State Chancellery Head Florian Herrmann (CSU). However, the ban is also about "keeping the spaces for discourse open in a liberal society". On the other hand, ideologically influenced language, such as gendering, has an exclusionary effect. In certain social milieus, there are also many missionary users in the use of language that are not compatible with an open society.

Accordingly, multi-gender spellings using internal word symbols such as gender gap, gender star, colon or mediapoint are expressly prohibited. "This applies regardless of any future decisions by the German Spelling Council on the issue of the use of special characters," the State Chancellery continued. If a civil servant disregards this, there will certainly be consequences, Herrmann said, without giving details.

For us, the clear message is that language must be clear and understandable.

Bayern Staatskanzleichef Florian Herrmann (CSU)

"Teachers must adhere to this"
"It is clear that teachers must adhere to this," emphasized Herrmann. In all official correspondence, including letters for parents and all internal communication, as well as in lessons. This is a clear and consistent line, "which we are pursuing with a sense of proportion." It is particularly important to the state government that no one is disadvantaged if they do not use gender-sensitive language. 

The German Spelling Council last recommended against the use of special characters inside words in its resolution of December 15, 2023, pointing out that these are interventions in word formation, grammar and spelling that can impair the comprehensibility of texts.

The official spelling regulations are also the basis for teaching in Bavarian schools. The Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs will therefore inform schools about the new, more precise guidelines on the use of gender language in schools and lessons.