The term “gender identity” refers to an individual’s internal understanding and personal experience of their gender, which may not necessarily correlate with the gender they were assigned at birth.

Freie Universität Berlin promotes a multifaceted understanding of gender that goes beyond binary definitions. Through its diversity and gender equity strategy Freie Universität Berlin strives to identify, analyze, and transform exclusionary structures that impact people of any gender, among pursuing a myriad of other measures. The university is thus dedicated to strengthening gender self-determination among trans, intersex, and non-binary university members from all status groups. The German Law on Civil Status (Personenstandsgesetz) has stipulated since 2018 that four options are to be provided when a person must submit their gender status: male, female, “divers,” and no entry. “Divers” (literally, the German word for “diverse”) is not considered a gender identity in its own right, but is included on the form as an option for non-binary, intersex, and agender people, for example.

The term “queer” and acronyms like “LGBTQIA+” are frequently used to refer collectively to highly diverse groups of people, including those whose gender identity does not fall within the bounds of cisnormativity as well as those whose sexual orientation does not fit into the confines of heteronormativity. The acronym “LGBTQIA+” stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, and asexual, with the plus sign (+) or asterisk (*) at the end signaling that this list is not exhaustive and that there are many other possible terms and points of reference that people use to define themselves.

The glossary on this page (currently only available in German) provides explanations of some of the most commonly used terms related to gender identity and includes links to further information.

In addition to the university’s overarching diversity goals, which take the various dimensions of gender identity into account, Freie Universität Berlin has committed itself to the goal of strengthening gender self-determination among transgender, intersex, and non-binary university members by setting the following objectives (and measures for achieving them):

• Empower trans, intersex, and non-binary students
• Ensure that language and forms of address used at the university are inclusive with regard to gender diversity
• Raise awareness among employees regarding gender diversity and the needs of trans, intersex, and non-binary people
• Simplify the process for university members who would like to change their names or gender markers on the university’s IT systems

Freie Universität Berlin factors gender identity into all its measures that concern a variety of other dimensions of discrimination. It also pursues measures that specifically address gender identity, such as amending its process for university members who would like to change their names or gender markers.