Drag Queens Are Furious At Facebook: Can You Guess Why?
Drag queens are furious at Facebook because the social media giant is forcing them to use their real names instead of their stage names on Facebook’s profile pages.
A petition to allow the drag queens to use their stage names instead of their real identities has been signed by over 6,800 people.
To date, the Facebook bosses have dug-in deep and refused to change their policy.
The Telegraph reports that the group responsible for the petition have argued that the performers should be allowed to hide their true identity for reasons of privacy and safety.
The petition which was set up on change.org by Seattle-based show-stopper Olivia La Garce demands Facebook rethinks the policy which is causing “confusion and pain.”
“Although our names might not be our ‘legal’ birth names, they are still an integral part of our identities, both personally and to our communities. These are the names we are known by and call each other and ourselves.
“We build our networks, community, and audience under the names we have chosen, and forcing us to switch our names after years of operating under them has caused nothing but confusion and pain.”
San Francisco drag queen Sister Roma, whose account is now under her legal name, largely unknown to fans and friends, wholeheartedly concurs.
“The policy was ‘unfair, hurtful, discriminatory and an invasion of privacy.'”
Facebook have previously flagged popular drag queen Sur Bete for name violations, but the performer is determined to carry on the crusade and told the BBC that other communities as well as drag queens could benefit from being able to use an adopted name.
“This isn’t just a matter for nightlife performers. This is a matter for actors and musicians, as well as folks who have chosen a different name simply to avoid potential stalkers.”
Facebook bosses haven’t taken the attack by the drag queens lying down and have explained that forcing people to use their real identities helps keep the social network safe.
“If people want to use an alternative name on Facebook, they have several different options available to them, including providing an alias under their name on their profile, or creating a Page specifically for that alternative persona.
“As part of our overall standards, we ask that people who use Facebook provide their real name on their profile.”
The whole affair is certainly a drag, but perhaps the captains in charge of the social network remain somewhat oblivious to the potential threat of an army of drag queens storming their headquarters and singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow en masse. Now that would be a right royal performance.
