In Bavaria's schools, universities and authorities are expressly prohibited from using gender-sensitive gender language. At its meeting in Munich on Tuesday, the cabinet decided on the necessary changes to the General Rules of Procedure for the Authorities of the Free State of Bavaria (AGO). The AGO already obliged the state authorities and thus also the schools to apply the official regulations for German spelling in official correspondence, but this regulation has now been “added to make it clearer,” it said.

“For us the message is clear: Language must be clear and understandable,” said State Chancellor Florian Herrmann (CSU). But the ban is also about “keeping the spaces of discourse open in a liberal society.” On the other hand, ideologically influenced language, for example when it comes to gender, has an exclusionary effect. In certain social milieus there are also many missionary users when using the language, which is not compatible with an open society.

The official regulation of spelling is also the basis for teaching in Bavarian schools. The Ministry of Culture will therefore inform schools about the more precise requirements for gender language. In addition, the specifications for the learning materials should be adjusted.

Federal Student Conference speaks of “paternalism”

According to the regulation, spellings using internal word symbols such as gender gap, gender star, colon or media point are expressly not permitted. “This applies regardless of any future decisions by the German Spelling Council on the question of the use of special characters,” the State Chancellery said.

The Federal Student Conference has condemned the ban on gender-appropriate language in Bavarian schools and described it as “patronizing” students. When it comes to something as personal as language, students are now being given rules and their freedom is being encroached upon, explained the Secretary General of the Federal Student Conference, Florian Fabricius, on Tuesday. “We are against this paternalism, this applies to both gender and non-gender,” he emphasized.

The Bavarian Teachers' Association said it largely welcomed the gender guidelines, but would have liked more self-determination and corresponding freedom for local schools. At least “the feared further bans did not materialize,” said association president Simone Fleischmann. It is important that schools remain free in the use of oral language and that students do not have to fear for their grades “if they are curious, ask questions and try to use gender-appropriate language.” In the future, teachers will not be obliged to consider the “gendering” of texts with special characters as an error.

The Arbeiterwohlfahrt Bayern assessed the decision as a contradiction to the planned Queer action plan: “We think everyone should be able to decide for themselves for or against gender,” the association said in writing. However, a “language that is sensitive to diversity” is important so that everyone feels addressed and it is known that language shapes thought patterns and can break down stereotypes.

No mandatory requirement

In practice, however, local authorities do not have to adhere to the new requirements, as Herrmann also admitted. But he assumes that it will send a signal if the Free State takes this approach. He did not explain what consequences teachers face if they do not adhere to the regulations. When asked, Herrmann said the ban was now set as standard. It remains to be seen whether a different regulation will be needed in five or ten years. You can also write gender-appropriately without special characters.

“It is clear that teachers have to adhere to it,” emphasized Herrmann. In all official correspondence, including letters to parents, all internal communication and in lessons. This is a clear and consistent line “that we pursue with a sense of proportion”. It is particularly important to the state government that no one is disadvantaged if he or she forgoes gender-sensitive language.

The Council for German Spelling most recently did not recommend the use of special characters inside words in a decision of December 15, 2023 and pointed out that these are interventions in word formation, grammar and orthography that can impair the comprehensibility of texts.