Politics · Germany · 5 hrs ago
Goethe-Institut changes statute to remove gender asterisks
The Goethe-Institut is changing its statute to remove gender asterisks.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has ordered his ministry to stop using them.
The statute’s June version included 143 asterisks and forms such as “Der*die Präsident*in.”
It was approved on June 24 but had not taken effect.
The change brings the institute’s rules in line with the ministry’s approach.
The available information does not say when the revised statute will take effect.
The Goethe-Institut is changing its statute to remove gender asterisks.
The new statute had contained 143 asterisks and forms such as “Der*die Präsident*in.”
The version with asterisks was approved on June 24 but had not yet taken effect.
The Foreign Office, following an instruction from Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, has ended the use of gender asterisks.
Bild reported the change on October 20, 2026.
- Who
- The Goethe-Institut; Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is also mentioned.
- What
- The Goethe-Institut is changing its statute to remove gender asterisks.
- When
- Bild reported the change on October 20, 2026. The statute was approved on June 24; the year is not stated.
- Where
- The Goethe-Institut. The article also refers to the Foreign Office.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A version of the Goethe-Institut’s new statute containing gender asterisks was approved.
Bild reported that the Goethe-Institut was changing the statute to remove gender asterisks.
- Gender asterisks
- The new statute contained 143
- Example wording
- Der*die Präsident*in
- Approval date
- June 24; year not stated
- Foreign minister
- Johann Wadephul