Bürger*innen? Backlash as Berlin mayor refuses to use gender-neutral language

Kai Wegner of the Christian Democrats tells Bild am Sonntag he wants to speak the German that he learned in school

Berlin’s recently appointed conservative mayor has said he will refuse to use gender-neutral language in office, insisting he wanted to use a language “that everyone understands”.

Kai Wegner, who became mayor of the German capital last month, signalled in an interview with the Bild am Sonntag a readiness to dispense with gender-neutral language altogether in the city’s administration, although appeared to later backtrack after coming up against strong opposition to his remarks.