Facebook bosses back down, allow drag names on profiles
By Josh Haggis
Facebook bosses have apologised to the drag community for banning the use of stage names on the social media site – and confirmed that from now on, drag names will be allowed on Facebook profiles.
Facebook had previously insisted on enforcing a so-called “real-name policy” designed to “protect the community and increase accountability”, but many drag queens argued that they should be able to use their stage names on their Facebook profiles instead in the interests of “privacy, safety, or preference”. Read more here.
Members of the San Francisco drag community met with Facebook representatives earlier this month (September) to discuss the issue, but the social network initially refused to budge, insisting that profiles must continue to show users’ actual birth names.
Following further complaints, Facebook bosses have now backed down on the issue, and the website’s Chief Product manager, Chris Cox, has released a statement apologising to the LGBT community. He also confirmed that from now on, drag performers will now be able to use their stage names on Facebook without fear of having their profiles deleted.
Read the full statement below:
Adore Delano, one of the stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race season six, spoke to attitude.co.uk about the “real name” controversy before Facebook agreed to back down, arguing that the company’s behaviour towards drag queens has been “so awful”.
“Now they are deleting people’s accounts and blocking them, it’s like ‘what the fuck are you doing?’ There are so many drag queens on Facebook right now, and they’re fucking with the market,” said Delano. “It’s really sad, because those without a fanpage need it. I just want to piss on their faces, it’s so awful.”