A non-binary person reported the conductor for using this phrase | the Chronicle

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys”, was the expression used by a conductor who sparked a controversy that started on social networks, but it went beyond virtuality and reached the whole world.

It all started when Laurence Coles, a non-binary personHe heard the phrase used by the conductor of the London North Eastern Railway train to greet passengers.

“As a non-binary person, this announcement doesn’t really apply to me, so I won’t listen to it. “, wrote Coles in Twitter.

Laurence works as a guard for the London South West Railways and is also LGBTIQ + referent of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) and the Labor Party, in Tooting, south of the British capital.

The complaint become firedHe arrived at the company, which took it upon himself to answer him: “We are so sorry to read thisLaurence, our conductors shouldn’t use such language, and thank you for pointing that out to me. “

In turn, they asked him to tell them on which service he usually travels to make sure that “Continue to be so inclusive” as they strive to be in the business.

“We have worked very hard to educate our people on why gender specific pronouns are not appropriate. in cases like these, and we regret to see that this was not respected here ”, they pointed out again in the company’s statement.

And they added: “It is quite valid that someone who does not identify with the terms used feels excluded and, as a company, we don’t accept that no one feels left out ”.

However, the railway company has indicated that it will not penalize the driver, but rather I would resolve to do a training pFor workers to learn to use inclusive language.

Transport for London, the London government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system (bus, train and tube) in the city orordered staff in 2017 to stop using the phrase “Ladies and gentlemen” to avoid offending passengers who have a gender identity other than binary male-female.

But the situation did not end there. As reported by The Sun, Charlotte monroeThe 28-year-old, also a non-binary person linked to Laurence, contacted the company. “I was sitting with Laurence when this tweet was sent. We are both non-binary and we feel alarmed and uncomfortable about the lack of inclusion “, he claimed.

According to English media, Charlotte works giving signaling instructions in the London Underground and founded the Progress Train group, which promotes the diversity and inclusion of the LGBT + community in the rail industry.

But as is often the case whenever the use of inclusive language is debated, the episode sparked controversy on social media. For example, the Twitter user Jay beechar commented : “My father was a conductor. If someone “non-binary” tried to hit him on a public ad addressed to passengers as “ladies and gentlemen” I’m sure they would have rightly told them to identify themselves as a car and to go see mr. . . ”-

Beyond these types of comments, a company spokesperson told British media: “We are committed to diversity and inclusion in everything we do for our clients, colleagues and communities.. Our policies and procedures are reviewed periodically and, in light of recent feedback, we will consider whether further changes are necessary. “