Inclusive volunteering guide
What does FLINTA* mean? A guide to inclusive volunteering
FLINTA* is a term commonly found in Germany and other German-speaking contexts. It is used by some community projects, cultural organisations, activist groups, hackspaces and volunteer programmes to explain who a particular space is intended for.
In brief
FLINTA* usually refers to women, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, trans and agender people. It is not simply another word for LGBTQIA+, and it should not be interpreted without considering the explanation given by the individual organiser.
In this guide
What does FLINTA* mean?
FLINTA* is an acronym derived from German. The letters generally represent:
- F – Frauen: women
- L – Lesben: lesbians
- I – intergeschlechtliche Menschen: intersex people
- N – nichtbinäre Menschen: non-binary people
- T – trans Menschen: trans people
- A – agender Menschen: agender people
The term is most often used to communicate who is welcome in a particular space, event or programme. The Queer Lexikon’s explanation of FLINTA* also notes that several versions of the acronym exist, including FLINT, FINTA and FLTI.
The asterisk generally signals openness to different identities, experiences and forms of self-description. Its precise interpretation can nevertheless vary. FLINTA* is a community and political term, not a universally standardised legal category.
Important: FLINTA* should not be used as a fashionable replacement for “women”. Doing so can wrongly exclude trans, intersex, non-binary and agender people who the term is intended to include.
Why is the letter L included?
People sometimes wonder why lesbians are named separately when the other letters mainly concern gender identity or sex characteristics.
The reason is partly historical and political. Lesbians have not always been welcomed or recognised in feminist spaces, and including the letter L made that inclusion explicit. Some discussions also understand lesbian identity as having social and political dimensions that cannot be reduced only to sexual orientation.
The Queer Lexikon offers a more detailed German-language discussion in its article Why is there an L in FLINTA?
Is FLINTA* the same as LGBTQIA+?
No. The two terms overlap, but they are not interchangeable.
LGBTQIA+ is a broad umbrella term covering different sexual orientations, gender identities and sex characteristics. FLINTA* is generally used to centre people who may experience discrimination or structural disadvantages connected to gender and patriarchal social systems.
This means that a person can belong to the wider LGBTQIA+ community without necessarily being included in a specific FLINTA*-only programme. For example, a cisgender gay man may be queer but may not meet the eligibility criteria of a FLINTA*-centred residential project.
At the same time, a person does not necessarily have to identify as queer to be included. A heterosexual cisgender woman, for example, may fall within the definition used by many FLINTA* spaces.
For explanations of related identities and terminology, readers can consult the LSBTIQ glossary of the German Federal Agency for Civic Education.
Why do FLINTA*-centred spaces exist?
Some sectors and activities continue to be affected by unequal access, discrimination and gender imbalance. This can be particularly visible in technology, engineering, manual trades, leadership, activist organising and other environments historically dominated by cisgender men.
A FLINTA*-centred space may allow participants to practise skills, make mistakes, lead activities and ask questions without facing some of the pressures they may have experienced in other settings.
The objective is not necessarily to claim that every mixed space is unsafe. It is to create a focused environment in which the experiences and participation of a particular group are prioritised.
The Freie Universität Berlin glossary on gender diversity explains that these spaces are intended to reduce discriminatory structures and behaviours that participants may encounter elsewhere.
What can FLINTA* volunteering involve?
FLINTA* volunteering is not one specific kind of work. The term describes the people centred by the project rather than the activity itself.
Depending on the organisation, volunteers might take part in:
- community workshops and peer education;
- open-source technology and digital projects;
- repair cafés, electronics and practical crafts;
- permaculture, gardening and animal care;
- communication, websites and social media;
- community kitchens and shared-space organisation;
- accessibility, cultural projects and local events.
Some programmes are designed for experienced volunteers, while others welcome beginners. A responsible listing should clearly explain the activities, schedule, accommodation, meals, accessibility, costs and eligibility requirements.
How should volunteers approach a FLINTA* opportunity?
Read the eligibility statement carefully. When a programme says that residential volunteering is reserved for FLINTA* participants, this is a central condition rather than an invitation to debate or negotiate the project’s boundaries.
Applicants should not normally be expected to disclose intimate medical or personal information. However, a host may ask them to confirm that they meet the stated criteria and have understood the purpose of the space.
A useful application can include:
- a brief personal introduction;
- the reasons for choosing that particular project;
- relevant interests, experience or skills;
- preferred dates and length of stay;
- dietary, accessibility or accommodation needs;
- confirmation that the eligibility criteria have been read.
A thoughtful and specific message is usually more helpful than a generic application sent to many unrelated hosts.
What role can allies have?
Some FLINTA*-centred organisations allow allies to attend public workshops, cultural events, educational activities or fundraising initiatives, even when volunteering or residential stays are restricted.
Other organisations may keep all their activities reserved. The organisers decide which spaces are open and which are not.
Being an ally means respecting these boundaries without treating them as a personal rejection. Allies can support a project by sharing its public activities, listening to the people involved or recommending the opportunity to someone who meets the criteria.
Advice for volunteer hosts
International applicants may never have encountered the term FLINTA*. Hosts should therefore define it in plain language rather than assuming that everyone understands it.
A clear eligibility notice should appear near the beginning of the listing. It can explain:
- who the programme is intended for;
- whether participation is based on self-identification;
- whether allies can attend any public activities;
- whether applications outside the criteria will receive a reply;
- how personal information will be handled.
Hosts should also explain practical conditions honestly. Inclusive values do not automatically make every building or activity accessible. Applicants need accurate information about stairs, bathrooms, sleeping arrangements, privacy, transport and available support.
Good practice: explain boundaries clearly, collect only the information needed to assess an application, protect applicants’ privacy and avoid asking people to prove their identity through invasive documentation.
Organisations should also make sure that their participation policies comply with the laws applying to their project. The German Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency provides information about gender identity, discrimination and legal protections in Germany.
A useful term, but not a perfect one
FLINTA* is not universally used or accepted. It is much more familiar in German-speaking activist and community contexts than in many other countries.
Some people find the acronym useful because it makes several often-overlooked groups visible. Others question whether one term can adequately represent people with very different identities and experiences.
Problems also arise when organisers advertise an event as FLINTA* but, in practice, only welcome people whom they personally perceive as women. This can reproduce exclusion instead of preventing it.
For this reason, the acronym should always be accompanied by clear information, thoughtful policies and respect for self-identification.
Further reading and useful resources
Learn more from specialised and institutional sources
Queer Lexikon: FLINTA definition
Freie Universität Berlin: glossary of gender diversity
Federal Agency for Civic Education: LSBTIQ glossary
Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency: gender and gender identity
Explore FLINTA* volunteering
On Voluntouring.org, the FLINTA* tag identifies volunteer projects and educational resources that explicitly centre people included in the organiser’s stated definition.
This article is intended as a general educational introduction. Every host is responsible for describing its own participation criteria and complying with the laws and safeguarding requirements applicable to its activities.