Celebrating Diversity Day today

Some thoughts on this from Christian Schwendy

Last Friday, I remembered: Tuesday is Diversity Day. Time for action? Should I write something? Maybe. But what exactly?

That we naturally support Charta der Vielfalt? That we have been communicating in a gender-neutral way for years and nobody gets tongue tied? That we have been a colorful and diverse group for as long as we can remember? That even though we’re based in the heart of Berlin, we’re not about to reject anyone just because they don’t declare their pronouns on their T-shirt? Or that all this is actually irrelevant because it’s the attitude that counts?

So I asked our team on Monday: Anything exciting happening in terms of diversity? The answer: “Nope. Nothing special.” And that is precisely the point.

For us as a language service provider, there is nothing more central than language itself. Inclusive communication has long been a matter of course for us. No big deal. Not a “project”. Simply part of our everyday life as a language service provider. Five years ago, we discussed the topic in the team for the first time – openly, without pressure. Gender-neutral, inclusive language is now standard in external communication. We deliberately chose this path because it is important to us to take a stand: For equality, inclusion – and for language as a living, self-regulating system.*

In the meantime, our approach feels so natural that we are sometimes asked how we do it because it’s hardly noticeable. Our answer? Our Guide to inclusive communication.

I’m pleased to say that we at Gemino not only take diversity seriously, but it’s something we live every day. And not just on Tuesdays.

* German is flexible – even with its strong focus on gender. With a little linguistic finesse, it’s possible to address everybody with gender equality in mind. Language evolves through society. The Duden – Germany’s foremost dictionary – doesn’t impose changes, but reflects them.

Christian Schwendy is managing director of Gemino GmbH and can be contacted on +49 30 308788 20 or christian.schwendy@gemino.de.