Facebook: Drag Names Can't Be Used in Profiles J. Bryan Lowder - Slate
go to original September 14, 2014

Last week, drag queens and similar performers began complaining of problems with their Facebook profiles. Artists from across the country reported being forcibly logged out of their accounts and informed that they would need to update their profiles with their legal names in order to lift the suspension.  

According to New York City-based drag performer and Outward contributor Miz Cracker, at least 20 of her drag colleagues have had their profiles challenged over the last three days, with notices continuing to be issued at the time of writing.

...Many artists, including Cracker and Sister Roma - a member of the San Francisco-based activism and performance group Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence - acceded to Facebook’s directive; Roma switched her profile to her birth name, Michael Williams, with her drag name listed as an alias in parentheses. Others have set up new profiles with truly fake names as an act of protest or deleted their accounts entirely.

According to a Facebook spokesperson, the step was taken to bring users in line with the company’s “real name” policy, which stipulates that “people use their real identities” and “provide their real names, so you always know who you're connecting with.” The rule is designed to “keep the community safe.”

Read the rest at Slate

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