What's In A Name? Everything.

Facebook will now suspend your account if you are not using your legal name. Such policies are unfairly biased against the Trans community

What would you do if you woke up and couldn't be you?

On January 23, 2015, H woke up to find their Facebook deactivated; no pics of their pets, no status updates from their mom, sister or friends. Upon H contacting Facebook's Help desk, Facebook responded with:

" It looks like the name on your Facebook account may not be your authentic name."

Facebook also asked to be emailed documentation to "verify your everyday name."

H asked if they could go by "H (LastName)" because "H is not a last name but who I am.".

Facebook denied the request stating, "Facebook is a community where people use their authentic identities, so you always know who you're connecting with. This means that using the first initial or part of your name isn't allowed."

When asked by H as to why there are many people on their own newsfeed, and elsewhere, who do not use their given name Facebook staff replied:

"We enforce the Facebook Statement of Rights and Responsibilities when we encounter violations on the site or receive reports of violations.

If accounts like this currently exist on the site, it is only because they have not yet been reported and removed."

With the trans community at a higher than average risk of being harassed when using social media; it is likely that reporting someone for not having a "everyday name" can be used as a form of bullying, further discouraging those who identify as trans, as well as the whole LGBT community from using social media or feeling safe doing so.

The internet was meant to be an open exchange of ideas, To box people into preconceived (and quickly changing) societal "norms" defeats the purpose of a free and open internet

#WeAreH

The full email conversation is copied below:

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: "Facebook"

Date: Jan 28, 2015 10:19 AM

Subject: Re: Contact Facebook

To:

Cc:

Hi,

We enforce the Facebook Statement of Rights and Responsibilities when we encounter violations on the site or receive reports of violations.

If accounts like this currently exist on the site, it is only because they have not yet been reported and removed.

View updates from your support dashboard: xxxxxxxxx

Thanks,

Dirk

Community Operations

Facebook

-----Original Message----

From: H ([e-mail])

To: Facebook

Subject: Re: Contact Facebook

So what you're telling me is that I can't be H but all the Michaels can be

Mike and Allisons can be Allies and Tyler James can be TJ but I can't be H?

Oh not to mention all the profiles of dogs that are out there.

This is absolute bullshit and horribly disrespectful. TONS of people don't

have their true, legal names and I don't see them getting singled out.

Why was I targeted? I have been a Facebook user for almost 10 years and

I've never had a problem until now.

EVERYONE in my life knows me as H. I would never have someone find me on

Facebook as "Heather" as H is my TRUE IDENTITY.

"At the end of the day, we endure much more than we think we can." -Frida

Kahlo.

On Jan 27, 2015 10:49 AM, "Facebook" wrote:

Hi Heather,

Unfortunately, we can't change your name to the name you want. Facebook is

a community where people use their authentic identities, so you always know

who you're connecting with. This means that only using the first initial or

a part of your name isn't allowed. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

Thanks,

Dirk

Community Operations

Facebook

> -----Original Message-----

From: H ([e-mail])

To: Facebook

Subject: Re: Contact Facebook

I am a transgender person and no one calls me Heather. I despise that name.

Can I please just be "H Due" on Facebook? H is not a nickname. It's who I

am.

Please!

"At the end of the day, we endure much more than we think we can." -Frida

Kahlo.

On Jan 26, 2015 5:00 PM, "Facebook" < [e-mail]> wrote:

Hi Heather,

Thanks for your response. We've changed your name and reactivated your

account. You should now be able to log in.

Please keep in mind that you'll no longer be able to update your name

from your settings. If you need to change your name in the future (ex: you get

married), please fill out this form:

https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/245617802141709/?ref=cr

You can also list another name (ex: nickname, maiden name) on your profile

along with your authentic name. Learn more about other names in the Help

Center:

https://www.facebook.com/help/131728300237162/?ref=cr

Thanks,

Dirk

Community Operations

Facebook

> > -----Original Message-----

From: H ([e-mail])

To: Facebook

Subject: Re: Contact Facebook

Thank you.

But is there any way you could delete the "Asaurus" off my name? It won't let me, saying I'm not providing my full name.

Thanks!

"At the end of the day, we endure much more than we think we can."

-Frida Kahlo

On Jan 25, 2015 9:07 AM, "Facebook" wrote:

Hi H,

Thanks for verifying your identity. We’ve unlocked your account, and you should now be able to log back in. We're sorry for the inconvenience. If you have any problems getting back into your account, please let us know.

Thanks,

Facebook

> > > -----Original Message-----

From: H ([e-mail])

To: Facebook

Subject: Re: Contact Facebook

My legal name is Heather but no one has called me that in years.

I'd like my name to be H Due on Facebook please.

"At the end of the day, we endure much more than we think we can."

-Frida Kahlo.

On Jan 23, 2015 2:22 PM, "Facebook"

wrote:

Hi, It looks like the name on your Facebook account may not be your authentic name. We ask everyone to use the name they go by in real life so friends know who they're connecting with.

Please help us by responding with your first and last name.

If the name on your account is already the name you use in everyday life, we would like to work with you to verify that this name best represents your identity. We accept a number of documents to allow you to verify your everyday name.

Learn more in our Help Center:

We appreciate your patience, and thank you for being a member of the Facebook community.

Thanks,

The Facebook Team