Gender Diversity

The University of Bremen is committed to gender equality at all levels and within all university status groups. This also means actively strengthening the gender diversity recognized by current laws. Since 2018, the "Personenstandsgesetz" has allowed for the use of the category diverse or leaving the gender entry open in addition to the gender entries male and female. The "Selbstbestimmungsgesetz" (Self-Determination Act, SBGG), which came into force on November 1, 2024, entitles people whose gender identity differs from their gender entry in the civil status register to independently declare to the registry office that the information on their gender should be adjusted in accordance with the options specified in the "Personenstandsgesetz" (see above).

As the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Office, we are committed to promoting gender diversity at the university in a way that is sensitive to discrimination and to combating sexism in all its forms, and we advise the university on these processes. Discrimination on the basis of gender identity is always interwoven with other dimensions of discrimination such as racism, homophobia, ableism and classism. In our measures, services and strategic objectives, we take gender diversity into account from an intersectional perspective.

The University of Bremen is currently working on establishing a procedure for employees to self-determinedly change their first name within the university context.

We will inform you on this page as soon as this possibility exists. As long as there is no general procedure, we are trying to find case-by-case solutions.

In case of questions, please reach out to Nele Kuhn nele.kuhnprotect me ?!vw.uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de.

The University of Bremen is currently in the process of redesigning existing toilets for all genders and defining standards for all-gender toilets for new buildings or renovations.

There is already an all-gender bathroom in the building GW2 on the third floor. The so-called "Gender Klo" was established as part of an art porject (Room GW2 B3860/65).

Some parts of the University further took the initiative and transformed select bathrooms into all-gender bathrooms. You can find them here:

In the Sportturm, Room C1142: close to the foyer, where you walk to the sports centre.
In the TAB building, at the Institute for Technology and Education (ITB), Entrance A, 2. floor
In the FVG-Geb?ude, Part M, 2. floor, room 2100
In the Unicom, Haus 7 (Socium), 4. floor, room 7.4.4.16
In the Unicom, Haus 7 (BIGSSS), 3. floor, opposite of room 7.3110
In the Unicom 2, Haus Oxford, in the rooms of the Equal Opportunities/Anti-Discrimination Office, ground floor and 1. floor.

If you have questions regarding all-gender bathrooms and the process of establishing new toilets, please reach out to Nele Kuhn (Head of the Diversity Office): nele.kuhnprotect me ?!vw.uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de.

You can find information on gender-sensitive language and handouts regarding addressing trans*, inter* and non-binary people sensitively in German here.

Have you experienced discrimination or marginalisation, or are you experiencing conflicts in everyday university (work/study) life? The colleagues at the ADE will advise and support you confidentially.