The European Union has been forced into a U-turn after it sought to ban the word “Christmas” and other Christian terms as they are deemed offensive or not inclusive enough.
The EU Commissioner for Equality Ms Dalli launched an internal guide to inclusive communication. It prohibited several expressions deemed stigmatizing according to gender, sexual identity, ethnic origin or culture, the Italian daily Il Giornale discovered in the document.
According to the report, the use of the masculine “by default” should be prohibited and “Ladies and Gentlemen” should be replaced by “Dear colleagues.” Terms with a gendered connotation such as “workmen” should also be banned in order to “reflect diversity” and fight against “stereotypes deeply rooted in individual and collective behaviour”.
The report, therefore, recommended that references to Christmas be removed and that the term “holiday” be used instead.
Christian names such as Mary or John were also in line to be banned, the Express reported.
After an official complaint, the EU Commissioner was forced to withdraw the guidelines.
She said: “The guidelines initiative was intended to illustrate the diversity of European culture and to show the inclusive nature of the Commission.
“However, the published version of the guidelines is not functional for this purpose.
“It is not a mature document and does not meet to our quality standards.
“So I withdraw it and we will work on this document again. ”
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