By By Robert Myles Feb 16, 2013 in World Angers - A Subway sandwich restaurant in the city of Angers, Pays de la Loire was forced to close after its posters advertising Valentine’s day ‘specials’ were slammed as being homophobic and caused outrage on social media. Julien Miquel's Tweet highlighting the offending poster in the window of a sandwich bar in Angers, France Twitter - Julien Miquel A sharp eyed passer-by and Twitter user, Julien Miquel, spotted the advert and his tweeted photo of the discriminatory poster rapidly circulated in the Twittersphere and other social media. This wasn’t just an insensitive mistake reports French language The restriction of the restaurant’s special offers to heterosexual couples only sparked accusations of homophobia. As word of the restaurant’s discriminatory offer spread on social media, it prompted some to say they would boycott Subway which has over 400 outlets across France, unfair to Subway France, perhaps, since individual Subway outlets are franchised and the brand has no direct control over the day to day actions of individual outlets. But Subway France HQ was quick to react and dealt with a number of complaints via their Notwithstanding Subway France taking prompt action, French daily, In France, same-sex civil partnerships have been legal for some time. Known as PACS — pacte civil de solidarité — France's PACS or Posters appeared in the windows of a Subway franchise in central Angers advertising ‘Fete des amoureux’ — ‘lovers’ celebration’ in the lead-up to St Valentine’s Day. But, the posters also carried the text: ‘Pour les couples (H/F).’ It was the last ‘qualification’ of the Valentine’s Day special offer that caused outrage across social networks as ‘H/F’ referred to homme-femme — man-woman. Only heterosexual couples could avail themselves of the two for €14 Valentine’s Day special.A sharp eyed passer-by and Twitter user, Julien Miquel, spotted the advert and his tweeted photo of the discriminatory poster rapidly circulated in the Twittersphere and other social media.This wasn’t just an insensitive mistake reports French language Midi-Libre . The reference to ‘H/F’ couples was starred with an asterisk and a footnote to the poster read: “Discrimination(?): Non, la loi de mariage pour tous a avancé, mais n'est pas encore ratifié par le sénat. Jusque la je utilise la loi de la liberté d'expression." — "Discrimination (?): No, the law on marriage for all has made progress but has not yet been ratified by the Senate. Until such time as it is, I am using the law of freedom of expression.”The restriction of the restaurant’s special offers to heterosexual couples only sparked accusations of homophobia. As word of the restaurant’s discriminatory offer spread on social media, it prompted some to say they would boycott Subway which has over 400 outlets across France, unfair to Subway France, perhaps, since individual Subway outlets are franchised and the brand has no direct control over the day to day actions of individual outlets.But Subway France HQ was quick to react and dealt with a number of complaints via their Twitter account . They later confirmed that the offending poster in the Angers restaurant had been removed. Subway France later posted, “We are committed to diversity / inclusion, working with the restaurant owner to strengthen our values / policies.”Notwithstanding Subway France taking prompt action, French daily, Liberation reports local LGBT rights group Quazar saying in a statement that it planned to file a complaint, under Articles 225-1 and 225-2 of the France's Criminal Code under which refusal of goods or services to customers due to their sexual orientation constitutes a criminal offence.In France, same-sex civil partnerships have been legal for some time. Known as PACS — pacte civil de solidarité — France's PACS or Civil Solidarity Pacts are available to both same-sex and heterosexual couples. The display of the discriminatory advertisement also came against a background where France looks set to legalise gay marriage despite a number of protests over recent months. A new French law opening marriage and adoption to same-sex couples is currently making its way through the French legislature and received its first reading in France’s National Assembly last week. More about Homophobia, Gay rights, Sexual discrimination, Same sex marriage, Gay marriage More news from Homophobia Gay rights Sexual discriminatio... Same sex marriage Gay marriage Valentine s day gay marriage in fran... sex discrimination lgbt rights Subway subway sandwich Homophobic France Gay Marriage Subway France Hetero... Subway An