Life

The Trevor Project leaves X due to the “increasing hate and vitriol” on the platform

By Jordan Robledo

12th November 2023

The Trevor Project has announced their departure from X (formerly known as Twitter) over anti-LGBTQIA+ hate. 

Since Tesla CEO Elon Musk took over the social media platform, the app has implemented shocking adjustments to its established user policies, resulting in increased anti-LGBTQIA+ hate speech.

In April, X removed regulations that protected transgender users from being deadnamed or misgendered – which was initially introduced in 2018. 

“We prohibit targeting others with repeated slurs, tropes or other content that intends to dehumanise, degrade or reinforce negative or harmful stereotypes about a protected category,” the policy said.

Now, a line prohibiting the “targeted misgendering or deadnaming of transgender individuals” has been quietly deleted.

On 5 October, journalist Alejandra Caraballo revealed that X had removed another protection for LGBTQIA+ users when it changed their reporting policies. 

“Twitter has overhauled its reporting system. It has removed the ability to report targeted misgendering and transphobic harassment. It has also removed the ability to add context to the report,” she wrote. 

Due to the rise of hate speech and overall toxicity, an array of high-profile individuals and organisations have stepped away from the platform– including Shonda Rhimes, Playbill Magazine, Jamela Jamil, NPR, and Jack White.

Now, it looks like the LGBTQIA+ non-profit organisation, The Trevor Project, has put in its own notice of departure.

“The Trevor Project has made the decision to close its account on X given the increasing hate & vitriol on the platform targeting the LGBTQ community – the group we exist to serve,” the group revealed in a statement posted on 9 November. 

“LGBTQ young people are regularly victimised at the expense of their mental health, and X’s removal of certain moderation functions make it more difficult for us to create a welcoming space for them on this platform.

The organisation went on to say that the decision to leave X was reached after receiving input from “dozens of internal and external perspectives.” 

Towards the end of their heartbreaking statement, the group encouraged their followers to check out their other social media profiles and website, TrevorSpace.org, for future updates and Trevor Project news.

“No online space is perfect, but having access to sufficient moderation capabilities is essential to maintaining a safer space for our community.”

The Trevor Project isn’t the only LGBTQIA+ organisation to leave X. 

Back in October, Mermaids announced on their website that they were shutting down their profile in favor of  TikTok. 

“At Mermaids, we are committed to using our social media platforms to support our charitable aims to embrace and empower trans young people and their families, and educate the wider public on the issues they face. We believe that as a platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, no longer supports these aims,” they explained. 

“Our account will remain active as an archive for those seeking information and support, but we will no longer be posting content or responding to comments and direct messages… we begin our journey on TikTok, where we hope you will follow us.”