GLAAD RESPONDS TO FACEBOOK OVERSIGHT BOARD RULING ON CONTINUING TO DEPLATFORM FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP

New York, NY, May 05, 2021 – GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, is responding to Facebook’s Oversight Board recommendation to continue the suspension of former President Trump from Facebook and Instagram.

The Board urged Facebook to review its policies on responding to problematic content and those who post it, giving Facebook six months to develop “clear, necessary and proportionate policies that promote public safety and respect freedom of expression.”

Statement from GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis:

“The Oversight Board’s decision to uphold Facebook’s restrictions on the former president’s account must now lead to permanent removal, and set a precedent for strong action from Facebook and all platforms when posts and content lead to violence and real world harm. At a time when LGBTQ people report being bullied and harassed online more than any marginalized group, and when misinformation about our lives is leading to anti-LGBTQ legislation, social media companies need to prioritize creating safer and welcoming environments for our community and all vulnerable people. Platforms should prioritize the truth and safety for individuals and our democracy, and those inciting violence and spreading misinformation and disinformation should be held accountable.”

According to the 2021 Online Hate and Harassment Report compiled by the Anti-Defamation League, LGBTQ people continued to report disproportionately higher rates of harassment online than all other identity groups at 64%, compared to 41% for the general population overall.

Within hours of the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol, GLAAD urged Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to permanently ban former President Trump for his role in spreading lies about his election loss and for inciting violence among his supporters. 

Former President Trump consistently used social media to spread anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. In July 2017, he tweeted that transgender people should be banned from military service, one of more than 200 attacks in policy and rhetoric against LGBTQ people tracked by GLAAD’s Trump Accountability Project. 

There is no shortage of content about the former president on Facebook. His supporters currently have nine of the ten top performing posts on the platform, and frequently spread anti-LGBTQ content:

1. Ben Shapiro

2. Ben Shapiro

3. Ben Shapiro

4. Fox News

5. ForAmerica

6. Dan Bongino

7. Sean Hannity

8. Dan Bongino

9. Fox News

10. The Rachel Maddow Show