Facebook U-turns after removing video of Democrat hanging trans flag for ‘hate speech’ – but leaves up actual transphobia
(Facebook/Marie Newman/Twitter/Marjorie Taylor Greene)
Facebook has apologised for deleting a video of Democrat Marie Newman hanging a trans flag outside of Majorie Taylor Greene‘s office – but has left Greene’s transphobic response up.
Newman posted a video of herself unfurling a trans Pride flag outside of her office – which neighbours Greene’s – only for Facebook to remove it for “hate speech”.
“Meanwhile, they’re still allowing Marjorie Taylor Greene’s transphobic video to be posed,” Newman tweeted, referring to a video of the congresswoman hanging a retaliatory sign reading: “There are two genders male and female. Trust the science!”
The move sparked outrage, prompting a quick apology from Facebook.
Andy Stone, spokesperson for Facebook, apologised to Newman on Twitter. He said: “This plainly should not have happened.”
Stone said Facebook had restored her content, and she had “our sincere apologies”. At the time of writing, Greene’s video remains on Facebook.
Congresswoman, this plainly should not have happened. We've restored this content and you have our sincere apologies.
— Andy Stone (@andymstone) February 25, 2021
Marjorie Taylor Greene attacks Marie Newman and her trans daughter
Newman has an office in Washington’s Longworth House Office building directly across from Republican Greene’s office.
The two have sparred in recent days over the Equality Act, which seeks to protect LGBT+ Americans from discrimination.
Newman, whose daughter is trans, urged fellow lawmakers to speedily pass the legislation in Congress on Tuesday (23 February), saying: “The right time to pass this act was decades ago. The second best time is right now.”
She continued: “I’m voting yes on the Equality for Evie Newman, my daughter and the strongest, bravest person I know.”
Without the Equality Act, millions of Americans like my daughter can be denied housing, education, and more simply because they identify as transgender.
I’m voting to pass the Equality Act for my daughter – the strongest, bravest person I know. pic.twitter.com/vnt6yeDQOh— Congresswoman Marie Newman (@RepMarieNewman) February 24, 2021
Greene, who has a history of transphobia, told the House that the Equality Act “destroys God’s creation” and “completely annihilates women’s rights and religious freedoms”.
She took the time to speak about abortions, which have nothing to do with the Equality Act.
The Democrats' so-called “Equality” Act is an attack on God's creation.
Today, I rose in OPPOSITION. pic.twitter.com/e6qP1qTT8j— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) February 23, 2021
Greene also tweeted that the Equality Act puts “sexual and gender identity above all rights, and anyone who goes against it is considered discrimination” and falsely claimed the act would protect paedophiles. Needless to say, the Equality Act would not destroy women’s rights, protect paedophiles or annihilate religious freedoms.
The QAnon support stooped to misgendering Newman’s daughter in a tweet.
“As mothers we all love and support our children,” she wrote. “But your biological son does not belong in my daughters’ bathrooms, locker rooms and sports teams.”
Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger called out Greene for hanging her anti-trans sign and also for the bile she directed at Newman’s daughter.
“This is sad, and I’m sorry this happened,” he said, adding that Greene’s actions “represent the hate and fame driven politics of self-promotion at all evil costs”.
