Prohibition of the use of inclusive writing

Le 25 octobre 2023, le Sénat adopte en commission une proposition de loi de visant à interdire tout usage de l’écriture inclusive, y compris le pronom « iel », dans de nombreux documents de la sphère privée et commerciale.

Le texte proposé par la sénatrice “Les Républicains”, Pascale Gruny, prévoit de bannir l’écriture inclusive « dans tous les cas où le législateur exige un document en français ». Plusieurs sphères sont visées : les notices d’utilisations, les règlements internes d’entreprises, les modes d’emploi, les contrats, les offres d’emplois, les règlements intérieurs d’entreprises, mais aussi les actes juridiques.

A law against inclusive writing would erase the reality of trans and non-binary people

Selon cette proposition de loi, l’écriture inclusive doit être restreinte car « it is not compatible with the 'neutrality' of opinion expected in certain contexts« . Pour le sénat, l’écriture inclusive n’est pas vu comme « a way to advance gender equality" 

In what situation is the French language “neutral”, when it is always the masculine which prevails the feminine, and there is no alternative for neutrality? Why is it always the masculine who must dominate the world? At least in other languages, like English, neutrality exists and the pronoun “they/them” has long been included. 

But that's the problem with Latin languages ​​which are very gendered. However, at least in these other countries, their attachments to old linguistic practices are not as strong as in France. A language evolves over time and is supposed to adapt to the new situations and issues of its period. A language that does not evolve, that is always stuck in the past, is a language that slowly progresses towards its death. 

It is considered that this proposed law would be a serious attack on the rights of trans people and inclusiveness in general. This is their way of fighting what they call “wokism”. For us, inclusive writing is an effective way to advance the rights of trans people, as well as gender equality by evolving our ways of writing. Above all, inclusive writing allows trans/non-binary people using gender-neutral pronouns to truly exist in public spheres. Banning this use is a direct attack on these people. 

The National Assembly must now examine the bill.