【1996 Archives】

"Ladies996 Archivesgentlemen…"

If you frequent public transit, you're probably used to hearing this booming, gendered greeting over loudspeakers. But London Tube travelers are starting to hear a new greeting that hopes to welcome transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming commuters.

The familiar phrase "ladies and gentlemen" is being removed from announcements on the London's Underground's service in favor of a more gender-inclusive greeting.

Tube staff will now use greetings like, "Good morning, everyone," to preface announcements. All pre-recorded announcements will also be updated to feature gender-inclusive language.

"We want everyone to feel welcome on our transport network," Mark Evers, director of customer strategy at Transport for London (TfL), said in a statement. "We have reviewed the language that we use in announcements and elsewhere, and will make sure that it is fully inclusive, reflecting the great diversity of London."

TfL guidelines previously stated: "When using the Public Address (PA) system, you must start all service information announcements with ‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ except for routine announcements such as 'mind the gap' and 'stand clear of the doors.'"

The shift to gender-inclusive greeting comes after LGBTQ activists in the city called for London mayor Sadiq Khan to change the greeting, especially in relation to the city's recent Pride celebrations.

The push to change the language was spurred after London commuter Aimee Challenor, who is a transgender woman, was told she "didn’t sound like a Miss" during a telephone call to the Tube's helpline in September 2016. Challenor's experience caused LGBTQ activists to advocate for gender training for Tube staff, while also advocating for Tube announcements that recognize a spectrum of gender identities.