Facebook #MyNameIs Protest At San Francisco Pride Parade Centers On 'Real Name Policy'
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"Shame on Facebook," a group of marchers chanted during San Francisco's Pride Parade Sunday. Amid the floats and banners celebrating pride week and the passing of the same-sex marriage ruling, the group brought renewed attention to a Facebook policy requiring authentic names.
The social network's rule has drawn extensive criticism from drag queens and the LGBT community over the last year and has spurred a movement with the hashtag #MyNameIs.
And a notably anti-Facebook sensibility at #SFPride because of its real-name policy. Lots of #mynameis stickers pic.twitter.com/pMJu9PQAk0
— Geoffrey Fowler (@geoffreyfowler) June 28, 2015
During Sunday's parade, the campaign distributed stickers and postcards that read "Shame on FB" when they reached the judges panel, Business Insider reports.
Postcards from #SFPride: Helping to hand out #MyNameIs stickers. pic.twitter.com/UTOPK5Wh8k
- Violet Blue ® (@violetblue) June 28, 2015
“I was not aware of just how deep this issue was,” Sister Indica told International Business Times shortly after the protest. “For instance, we had speakers that spoke on behalf of domestic violence victims who use names that are not their legal names for protection.”
The dispute over Facebook’s so-called “real names policy” started to gain traction in September 2014 after several LGBT community members reported being blocked from their accounts. The movement aligned with the launch of Ello, a social network that promised no advertising and also welcomed nicknames. The site now boasts “many millions” of users.
Facebook employees also marched in Sunday's parade in San Francisco, boasting colorful T-shirts with the company name and hoisting a sign for "pride@Facebook."
#Facebook rocks #pride in SF pic.twitter.com/niBwFfKMxm
- JP Mangalindan (@JPManga) June 28, 2015
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