[Wamvan] Fwd: Facebook's identity crisis

[Natalie Hill]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Andre and Jeremy, AllOut.org <info at allout.org>
Date: Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 10:27 AM
Subject: Facebook's identity crisis
To: Natalie Hill <nhill10 at gmail.com>


**

*Google+ is opening its doors to the trans community – get with it Facebook!
*

* <http://act.allout.org/go/177?akid=178.212440.tHl-iU&t=1>*

Meet 5 All Out members who are calling out Facebook, then add your voice:

*[image: Sign] <http://act.allout.org/go/177?akid=178.212440.tHl-iU&t=2>*



Imagine that one day Facebook suddenly erased your identity from its social
network – what would you do?  We often take for granted our ability to
create an online identity that reflects who we are, but for millions that's
impossible – because their gender does not fit in Facebook's checkboxes.

>From Metis in Nepal, to Travestis in Brazil, there are millions whose
identities are broader than just male or female – the two options Facebook
forces you to choose from before joining. *The governments of Nepal, India,
and Pakistan have legally recognized that gender goes beyond male and female
- and so has Facebook's main competitor, Google+.*

If Facebook were a nation, it would have the world’s third largest
population. In the past, they have used their influence for good -
recognizing same gender partnerships and marriages. *Will you take one
minute to ask Facebook to change the checkbox and open their doors to people
of all gender identities?* Then tell your friends and family to do the same:

www.allout.org/facebook<http://act.allout.org/go/177?akid=178.212440.tHl-iU&t=3>

What we love about Facebook is the ability for people to create and
customize online identities to reflect our lives. When it comes to
languages, we can list virtually any language in the world, or even make up
languages – how else could we show off our fluency in “Language of Love”? If
our ability to choose religions, languages, and interests are limitless, why
should Facebook impose limits on something as essential as gender?

While most trans people have fought for the right to have their gender
identities recognized and respected, we know this is a new issue to many All
Out members.  *So, we asked 5 members of our community who are impacted by
Facebook's policy to tell us about who they are and why this change
matters.  You can check out their stories and sign the petition, here:*

**www.allout.org/facebook<http://act.allout.org/go/177?akid=178.212440.tHl-iU&t=4>

Facebook is one of the most powerful companies in the world and can
influence hundreds of millions of people. Will you push Facebook to become a
vehicle, not a roadblock, in the uphill drive for recognition and respect?

www.allout.org/facebook<http://act.allout.org/go/177?akid=178.212440.tHl-iU&t=5>

Thank you for speaking out so that every All Out member is respected for who
they are.  We appreciate you!

All the best and All Out,
Aaron, Andre, Erika, Guillaume, Jeremy, Joseph, Nita, Oli, Prerna, Tile,
Wesley and the rest of the team at All Out



*SOURCES:*

1. Pakistan's high court finds merit in third gender
ID<http://act.allout.org/go/178?akid=178.212440.tHl-iU&t=6>

2. India's third gender gets own identity in voter
rolls<http://act.allout.org/go/179?akid=178.212440.tHl-iU&t=7>

3. Nepal: Third gender issued citizenship
certificate<http://act.allout.org/go/180?akid=178.212440.tHl-iU&t=8>

4. Facebook’s Gender
Trouble<http://act.allout.org/go/184?akid=178.212440.tHl-iU&t=9>

5. Google Plus Goes Gender
Neutral<http://act.allout.org/go/183?akid=178.212440.tHl-iU&t=10>

*All Out is bringing people together in every corner of the planet and of
every identity - lesbian, gay, straight, transgender and all that’s between
and beyond - to build a world in which everyone can live freely and be
embraced for who they are.*

*Our mailing address is:*
Purpose Foundation
224 Centre St
New York, NY 10013

*Copyright © 2011 AllOut.org, All rights reserved.*

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