SNCF sued over lack of gender-neutral titles on French trains

European court to give ruling as tickets offer only monsieur and madame as options
Adam Sage
, Paris
The Times
SNCF’s policy is to be examined in a case brought by a group of passengers
SNCF’s policy is to be examined in a case brought by a group of passengers
ROMUALD MEIGNEUX/SIPA/REX FEATURES
Adam Sage
, Paris
The Times

French society is not ready for gender-neutral titles, according to the state rail operator SNCF, which is being sued for asking passengers to choose between monsieur and madame when booking tickets.

SNCF set out its arguments in a case in which the European Union’s Court of Justice is to determine whether the operator’s booking website, SNCF Connect, should include a third, gender-neutral option.

The legal action was filed two years ago by Mousse and Stop Homophobie, which are associations that campaign against discrimination, and by 64 passengers who claim that SNCF is “shutting them in gender stereotypes” because the website features only boxes for Mr and Mrs.

They want passengers to be offered a third option, either “other” or “unspecified”. The case reached the State