Vienna (OTS) – Chancellor Karl Nehammer would like to see gender in the Austrian administration abolished by 2030 – this is reported by the daily newspaper “Heute”. Pride Biz Austria resolutely opposes this request and instead calls for greater awareness of gender diversity.
Shortly before the start of “Queer History Month” on February 1st, during which the achievements of the LGBTIQ+ community are to be highlighted, Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s speech plans on gender-sensitive language in the Austrian administration are causing a stir. As the daily newspaper “Heute” reports, citing a rough draft of a keynote speech by the head of government planned for Friday to ÖVP officials, the head of government wants to speak out against “excessive, symbolically charged gender language” – which probably means the use of the internal I, asterisk and colon to make different gender identities visible. According to Nehammer, “writing out both gender formulations” instead “makes sense” – i.e. specifically “politicians”.
The economy and the world of work have already moved on
Pride Biz Austria, the Austrian association for the promotion of the inclusion of sexual diversity in business and the world of work, resolutely opposes this greatly simplified supposed solution to the highly complex issue of properly reflecting gender diversity. “Language not only reflects the reality of life, but also shapes it explicitly. The visibility of already marginalized groups such as the LGBTIQ+ community in all its diversity is massively influenced by the social – and therefore also the political – use of language
“, explains Astrid G. Weinwurm-Wilhelm, President of Pride Biz Austria. Weinwurm-Wilhelm continues: “The Austrian economy and world of work are far more future-oriented in their approach to gender-sensitive language than some political parties and recognize that the outdated model of gender binary, i.e. a strict division of people into ‘male’ and ‘female’, does not correspond to reality.
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Focus on raising awareness
Numerous organizations have already recognized the need for greater awareness of gender diversity among the public and decision-makers. In recent years, a large number of companies in this country have developed extensive language guidelines in order to reflect the entire gender spectrum and thus make all employees and customers visible and be able to address them accurately. In addition to companies, organizations and public administration have already implemented some measures, for example to make funding applications gender-equitable. The trend shows: The relevance of language as a tool for equality is being increasingly recognized and accepted. Weinwurm-Wilhelm says: “Language is dynamic and its development cannot be so easily stopped by spontaneous political decisions and artificially constructed outrage. Nevertheless, statements made by high-ranking politicians naturally serve as role models for many people and can endanger the achievements in linguistic visibility through gender-equitable language that have been hard-fought by generations of LGBTIQ+ people and feminists. We say very clearly: The panic over ‘gender’ must be eliminated. This is about fairness in language and the ultimate goal of equal opportunities for everyone – regardless of diversity dimensions such as gender identity and sexual orientation.
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* The English abbreviation “LGBTIQ+” stands for “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersexual, Queer”. Translated: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people.
Questions & Contact:
Pride Biz Austria
Benjamin Fischer
Presse & PR
benjamin.fischer@pridebiz.at