Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

GLAAD and IFTAS recently discussed the important action three platforms (Discord, Post and Spoutible) have taken to update their policies to add express prohibitions against targeted misgendering and deadnaming. In this same vein, there’s been wide press coverage on these advances in protecting LGBTQ+ members from hate including articles inTechCrunch,Them,Engadget,Pink News,LGBTQ Nation, and more.

GLAAD’s articleAll Social Media Platform Policies Should Recognize Targeted Misgendering and Deadnaming as Hate Speech highlights the need for Fediverse providers to consider adopting similar rules for their own communities.

To help with this effort, we are providing sample language below that can be used in Codes of Conduct, Terms of Service, or Server Rules to help ensure these protections are in place.

The Fediverse has a proud history of longstanding support of LGBTQ+ issues, exemplified both by the ActivityPub protocol being created by a predominantly queer team, and by Mastodon’s server covenant, which requires,

“Active moderation against racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia. Users must have the confidence that they are joining a safe space, free from white supremacy, anti-semitism and transphobia of other platforms.”

Due to the widespread and insidious nature of expressing anti-transgender sentiments in bad faith, it’s imperative to have specific policy addressing this issue.

This approach is considered a best practice for two key reasons: it offers clear guidance to users, and it assists moderators in recognizing and understanding the intent behind such statements. It’s important to reiterate that the focus is not about accidentally getting someone’s pronouns wrong. Rather, our concern centers on deliberate and targeted acts of hate and harassment rooted in gender identity discrimination.

GLAAD and IFTAS believe specific prohibitions can strengthen these commitments. To help promote and demonstrate the Fediverse’s commitment to safety, we are offering a Web form for service providers and community moderation teams to sign a pledge affirming they have adopted rules to combat this harmful conduct.

If you have measures in place to prohibit this conduct, please sign the pledge today!

Sample Code of Conduct
Misgendering, the act of referring to someone using a gender or pronouns that do not correctly reflect their gender identity, is prohibited. Deliberate or targeted misgendering, where there is an intentional refusal to respect an individual's self-identified gender and pronouns, is considered a form of harassment and discrimination. Deadnaming, which involves referring to a transgender or gender-diverse person by a name they used before their gender transition, is prohibited.The promotion or endorsement of so-called "conversion therapy" or any related programs or practices is prohibited. Conversion therapy, which aims to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, is a discredited practice that is harmful and disrespectful to the LGBTQ+ community.
Sample Rule
Misgendering, deadnaming, or promotion of so-called "conversion therapy" is prohibited.
or, to add to an existing rule:
[current rule regarding transphobic content, followed by:] (including misgendering, deadnaming, or promotion of so-called "conversion therapy")
Please consider adopting specific safeguards like the above, and show your support for #BetterSocialMedia by signing the pledge today!

To learn more about GLAAD and their Social Media Safety Score, see https://glaad.org/publications/social-media-safety-index-2023/

https://about.iftas.org/2024/01/30/targeted-misgendering-and-deadnaming-in-the-fediverse/

#BetterSocialMedia