Germany’s State Minister for Culture, Wolfram Weimer, has urged publicly funded institutions to refrain from using gender-inclusive language.
In remarks to the Funke Media Group newspapers, Weimer stated he recommends that quasi-governmental and public institutions utilize standard German rather than what he characterized as “ideological constructed languages”. He connected this recommendation to public acceptance, noting that surveys suggest between 60 and 80 percent of the population in Germany do not support gendered language forms and their preferences should be considered when communicating on behalf of the public or with public funds.
Weimer clarified that his statement constitutes a recommendation, not a directive. When questioned about the consequences of museums or foundations choosing not to follow his guidance, he suggested they risk alienating their audiences. However, he stressed that institutions employing gendered language would not face a loss of funding as a result.
The Minister was keen to emphasize he has not issued a ban on gendered language within the Chancellery. “I have not prohibited anything” he said. He asserted that as civil servants, adhering to the rules of German grammar and the guidelines set forth by the Council for German Orthography is a matter of course. He framed this expectation not as a prohibition, but as a requirement for public employees, echoing standards expected of students.