Facebook, GLAAD Partner To Prevent Anti-Gay Bullying

NEW YORK — Facebook is working with a gay-advocacy group to reduce the amount of hate speech and bullying on the online social hub.

Anti-gay bullying has been in the spotlight recently after the suicides of several gay teenagers, including Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi, garnered national attention. According to police, the 19-year-old jumped off the George Washington Bridge after his roommate secretly recorded him with another male student and distributed video online.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said it reached out to Facebook last week after Internet bullies flooded a page set up to honor teens who recently killed themselves in response to anti-gay hate.

The page, set up by a Facebook user, asks supporters to wear purple next Wednesday in memory of the teenagers. Purple represents "spirit" in the rainbow flag that's the symbol of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. On Friday afternoon, most of the comments on the page were from supporters.

Facebook said that its policies prohibit hateful content and that it has systems in place to take down such posts as soon as possible. But the company also said it wants its users to be able to express unpopular opinions and as such must strike a careful balance between removing harmful content and letting people speak freely.

"Facebook has taken an important first step in making social media a place where anti-gay violence is not allowed," said Jarrett Barrios, the president of GLAAD.

Comments

[tonykeywest]

01:47 PM on 10/18/2010

anti gay violence. facebook needs to check a dictionary! violent speech is defined as rough or immoderate vehemence, such speech is protectd by the first amendment unless it is inciting (physical) violence or illegal activity. ( very limited and narrow
categories of speech )
the (supreme)Court noted that “provocation
and challenging” speech was:
protected against censorship or punishment,
unless shown likely to produce a clear and
present danger of a serious substantive evil
that rises far above public inconvenience,
annoyance, or unrest.

there is NOT a clear and present danger of physical violence
when words are used on the internet because of lack of proximity.

this is nothing more than further attempts by radical homosexuals
to silence all opposition to their agenda.

it is the opinoin of many that encouraging these kids to indulge in homosexuality is the reason they are commiting suicide. you lie to them and tell them its ok to be gay and then they are coverd in shame. The Bible says it is an abomination and you will not remove that stigma EVER because God put it there.

[V 22Forever]

07:11 AM on 10/18/2010

If I say "I don't care for homosexuality", . . is that hate speech?

How about a statement that calls for people to avoid supporting homosexuality?

Or, give me an opinion on someone saying that according to their religion (Chistrianity, for instance) they feel that homosexuality is evil?

[Wize-up]

06:40 PM on 10/17/2010

Ah yes... more loss of freedom from the left... more censorship... more oppression...

[Notsosurearewe]

06:44 PM on 10/17/2010

If you mean the loss of your ability to pick on people and bully them into submission with your ignorance, then yes this is a loss to you.

On the other hand, you shouldn't be allowed to pick on a group you disagree with anyway, so this is actually just setting things aright.

[Wize-up]

01:17 PM on 10/18/2010

No the loss of my ability to use words like 'gay' when I want to. It's not picking on anyone, that's the point.

[tonykeywest]

02:00 PM on 10/18/2010

The gays are the bullys, look at your comments , look at the use of loaded words like 'pick on' and 'bully.'
stating and opinion IE " My religion says homosex is an abomination" is not picking on a group or bullying- it is protected speech. The radical homosexuals want to destroy free speech. They are fascists in that sense. If you disagree with them they use inflamatory names like bigot, racist homophobe hater , bully, etc. to intimidate and coerce and silence you. By your own standards arent you the bigots and bullys!

[SouthJerseySteve]

06:49 PM on 10/17/2010

More evolving away for the GOP party of Neanderthals!

[KatieAnnieOakley]

05:17 PM on 10/17/2010

Doe that mean the right-wing women will be the first to go bye-bye? Oh, goody-goody-goody...

[JimWatt5]

03:14 PM on 10/17/2010

purple will be worn by me, a supporter and a sympathizer of the fight gays during this time to create equal rights for all.

[conscioushope]

05:04 PM on 10/17/2010

Fanned by another purple wearer!

#4!

[Notsosurearewe]

06:44 PM on 10/17/2010

fan #6.

[Logos Land]

02:05 PM on 10/17/2010

Bullying is a problem for everyone, not just gays. Ive seen kids have their childhoods ruined because their a little overweight, or just different somehow. It's always happened, and unfortunately will always happen unless the bully gets a change of attitude via PAIN.

[takecourage]

01:36 PM on 10/17/2010

I am against gay bashing, but this is a character in a movie. It seems like you're supposed to hate this guy, so why change what he actually says?

[cwebster]

01:25 PM on 10/18/2010

Um...you're commenting on the wrong story...

[takecourage]

01:27 PM on 10/18/2010

wooops!

[E NUFF]

01:03 PM on 10/17/2010

Hate speech isn't free . . . somebody always gets hurt.

[TomKnows]

01:00 PM on 10/17/2010

I hate hate speech articles

[cwebster]

01:26 PM on 10/18/2010

easy solution...don't read them:)

[Prince Toddy English]

12:14 PM on 10/17/2010

I wonder if this will actually help? I feel like this should be grass roots. The Schools need to crack down on this...HARD.

[Red Beans]

12:02 PM on 10/17/2010

Excellent move on the part of Facebook. I hope that Facebook extends this program to include all bullies on line.

Huffington Post could learn from Facebook. It is amazing the hate and venom that is posted on this web site. Maybe Huffington Post can hire an expert to address the frustrations that some of the posters display and help the posters deal with the frustration. I certainly don't believe that Adrianna supports name calling, foul language and cheap shots. These actions only encourage other playground bullies to jump in for more hate speech.

[conscioushope]

05:09 PM on 10/17/2010

I agree, on all accounts, Red!!

Proud to be your fan #2!

[KarenT]

11:37 AM on 10/17/2010

Wonderful story of the Princess Boy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bdwjHfiLXE&feature=player_embedded

[WHTrout]

11:35 AM on 10/17/2010

Every time someone says that being gay is a "choice," I ask them, "So, when did you CHOOSE to be straight?" Shuts 'em up right away.

[TheVeritableBuddhist]

11:40 AM on 10/17/2010

It is an effective counterargument to be sure. If one chooses to be gay, then at some point, every heterosexual must have been sexually attracted to members of the same sex and then just "chosen" differently, which, of course, points to their latent bisexuality. Of course, let's not forget the scientific evidence that backs up the claim that homosexuality is not the result of environmental influences or free will choices. The disposition of homosexuality (and bisexuality) is formed before you are born. But hey, screw facts when we can push our bigotry on other people.

[GiovanniJones]

11:41 AM on 10/17/2010

Junior year in high school. I could have gone either way at that point, I had plenty of options.

I picked girls over guys because girls smell better.

[seegray]

12:49 PM on 10/17/2010

So, are you saying that you were physically-attracted to 'guys'? I'm trying to understand this, because you may be the first person ever to have admitted this......

[cwebster]

01:28 PM on 10/18/2010

So, you are saying you are bisexual.

[MarioFZ1]

11:16 AM on 10/17/2010

Note to posters who still believe you choose your sexual orientation. Why would you choose to be gay when you know there's still a big social stigma associated with it? Intolerance agaist intolerance

[hippie4ever]

11:22 AM on 10/17/2010

Despite the social stigma the sex, clothes, dances & clubs make for a great time. I'm glad I'm gay -- wouldn't want to be a hetero family guy.

[Caroleeena]

12:46 PM on 10/17/2010

Don't forget the expendable cash. Cats are a lot cheaper than kids.

[Jared Drury]

11:32 AM on 10/17/2010

Because 4 cats are enough responceability. I couldn't imagine rasing kids. There are a lot of advantages, if you look at the positive side. That said it is defeinitly not a choice, but if it where I might still choose it.

[Caroleeena]

12:44 PM on 10/17/2010

If it were, I would definitely choose it. I mean, have you seen the pool of available straight men?

[dct1999]

10:50 AM on 10/17/2010

They need to work on all forms of hate speech.

[WhatTheHolyHeck]

01:04 PM on 10/17/2010

Word. There are some incredibly incediary, ignorant and hateful groups on Facebook. I'm still reeling from the utter idiocy of that Boycott Campbell's group.