Targeted Misgendering and Deadnaming in the Fediverse

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

IFTAS and GLAAD 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 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”

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.

IFTAS believes 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

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 to the following #moderation server teams that have signed the pledge:

alaskan.social
babka.social
benehomini.social
caseitor.masto.host
discussions.thenexus.today
flipboard.social
iosdev.space
indieweb.social
interledger.social
kzoo.to
mastodon.sandwich.net
mastodon.world
mastodonapp.uk
mstdn.ca
mstdn.party
mstdn.plus
retrogaming.social
rivals.space
ottawa.place
raphus.social
satanodon.com
social.authorhelp.uk
sonomu.club
spectra.video
toot.funami.tech
toot.wales
union.place
vmst.io
wandering.shop