Background

In early 2024 IFTAS and GLAAD 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 in TechCrunch, Them, Engadget, Pink News, LGBTQ Nation, and more.

GLAAD’s article All 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:

“the practice of targeted misgendering and deadnaming has emerged in recent years as one of the most common modalities for expressing contempt and hate toward trans and nonbinary people across all social media platforms”

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 harassment targeted at transgender and gender-diverse people (including agender, genderqueer, and two-spirit as well as non-binary), 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. 

Sample Code of Conduct

Adapt as necessary, this is suggested guidance.

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

Adapt as necessary, this is suggested guidance.

Targeted 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 targeted 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!

Thank You!

Something we hear a lot from individual moderators is “how am I supposed to know if this breaks the rules?”, and we believe there’s room to add clarity and definition alongside access to guidance from advocacy groups to better equip moderators with the context they might need. Plenty of moderation teams do a great job with the experience, content and harms they know about, but awareness campaigns like this one can help guide new moderators and community members to fully understand the nuance and context they might otherwise not be aware of.

We understand not every server needs or wants to add these specific rules, and we salute them all, there are thousands of servers each with their own needs and rules. Not appearing on this list is not a judgement of any of the wonderful services and communities who are already doing a fantastic job protecting their members.

We are delighted to list the #moderation teams that adopted or re-affirmed their rules prohibiting targeted deadnaming, misgendering, and the promotion of so-called “conversion therapy”. We thank them for helping elevate the message as part of our February 2024 campaign!

ailbhean.co-shaoghal.net
alaskan.social
babka.social
benehomini.social
blahaj.zone
bluechakra.cloud
caseitor.masto.host
discussions.thenexus.today
en.osm.town
fedi.lat
fedi.quebec
flipboard.social
hear-me.social
hoosier.social
ieji.de
iosdev.space
indieweb.social
interledger.social
kzoo.to
mas.to
mastodon.de
mastodon.sandwich.net
mastodon.scot
mastodon.social
mastodon.world
mastodonapp.uk
montereybay.social
mstdn.ca
mstdn.party
mstdn.plus
mublog.nl
muenchen.social
newsmast.social
retrogaming.social
rivals.space
ottawa.place
pixelfed.social
raphus.social
satanodon.com
simian.rodeo
social.authorhelp.uk
social.wedistribute.org
sonomu.club
spectra.video
subdued.social
toot.funami.tech
toot.wales
troet.cafe
union.place
universeodon.com
vmst.io
wandering.shop

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash