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"Diversity is an integral part of our university's profile"

The recent appeal by the Thuringian State Parliament to the State Government to refrain from using gender-sensitive language in state authorities and public institutions does not annul the resolution passed by the Senate on 08 July 2020 to use gender-sensitive language at the University of Erfurt. This has now been announced by the Presidium of the University.

Dr Theresia Piszczan, Equal Opportunity Officer at the University of Erfurt, comments: "Diversity is important to us - it is an integral part of our university's profile. Gender-appropriate language shows appreciation for all people, regardless of their gender. That's why we want to continue to pay attention to gender-appropriate language at the University of Erfurt in the future."

The background...

...is an appeal made by the Thuringian State Parliament to the State Government last week, according to which the state authorities and public institutions are to refrain from using gender in future for reasons of comprehensibility. This is to apply in the State Parliament and ministries and also in subordinate institutions such as courts, schools and universities. The first such initiative by a state parliament in Germany was formulated as an appeal to the State Government, because the CDU motion was not written as a law, but as a request. Of 74 MPs present, 38 voted in favour of the motion in a roll-call vote and 36 against.