SOCIAL MEDIA CIRCUS

BREAKING: Sources Say Facebook Will Apologize For “Real Name” Policy

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Sister Roma on her way to Facebook HQ this morning

After Queerty was one of the first to report on Facebook targeting drag performers by forcing them to use their legal names on profiles, the internet exploded.

And for good reason . We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again — don’t mess with drag queens.

The social media giant agreed to meet with Sister Roma — who brought the story to the public eye — and SF Supervisor David Campos to discuss the issue. A protest had been planned at Facebook HQ in Menlo Park, but after the company reached out for the meeting, the event was called off.

The results were sour. At the time, Roma posted (from her Facebook account she was forced to change to “Michael Williams”): “Facebook refuses to agree that the legal name policy is unfair and discriminatory.”

And so Roma planned another protest, this time at SF City Hall on October 2nd at noon.

Well wouldn’t you know it, Facebook called Roma and Campos down for a second meeting this morning, and this time they appear to have changed their tune. Could it have something to do with a mass gay exodus to alternative social network Ello?

Silicon Valley blog Valleywag reports that their sources have confirmed that Facebook plans to apologize personally to Roma and Campos, and while they won’t reverse the policy in those exact words, they plan to release a statement to the effect of insisting that “real name” meant “preferred name” all along. It’s just been enforced incorrectly this whole time. Of course!

Whatever twisted logic Facebook wants to use to make themselves look good, at least we can all agree that it’s about time this issue gets put to rest.

We’ll keep you updated as the story progresses. No word on whether or not tomorrow’s protest is still a go.

 

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