How Facebook moved the gay rights movement
Facebook never actually mentions the word gay, but they join a growing number of people who recognize there's more than one way to describe a relationship and people should be able to describe their relationships any way they choose, if at all
I applaud Facebook for adding "In A Domestic Partnership" and "In A Civil Union" to it's list of relationship status options. Previously, "Single," "Married," "Engaged," In a Relationship," "In an Open Relationship," "Divorced," "Separated," and "Widowed" were only available. Now, the only option missing is "None of Your Business," which is implied by leaving the line blank, anyway.
Still, a simple thing like a Facebook relationship status has a significant impact on how people view relationships. Like it or not, pop culture is all about influence, from couples sleeping in twin beds because Lucy and Ricky Ricardo did to luxury cars brands adding chrome packages because hip-hop made them do it. Eventually, these things became accepted standards.
Now, I'm not suggesting that just because Facebook makes mention of domestic partnerships or civil unions that your Christian Coalition neighbor is planning a pride party; but the relationship tags will influence their way of thinking—whether they like it or not.
Recognizing same-sex relationship statuses normalizes same gender loving people. Don't get me wrong, I have very little desire to be "normal" by society's definition, but normalization does help stop society from treating people as if they are abnormal. And for that, I "like" Facebook's new relationship statuses.
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I applaud Facebook for adding "In A Domestic Partnership" and "In A Civil Union" to it's list of relationship status options. Previously, "Single," "Married," "Engaged," In a Relationship," "In an Open Relationship," "Divorced," "Separated," and "Widowed" were only available. Now, the only option missing is "None of Your Business," which is implied by leaving the line blank, anyway.
Still, a simple thing like a Facebook relationship status has a significant impact on how people view relationships. Like it or not, pop culture is all about influence, from couples sleeping in twin beds because Lucy and Ricky Ricardo did to luxury cars brands adding chrome packages because hip-hop made them do it. Eventually, these things became accepted standards.
Now, I'm not suggesting that just because Facebook makes mention of domestic partnerships or civil unions that your Christian Coalition neighbor is planning a pride party; but the relationship tags will influence their way of thinking—whether they like it or not.
Recognizing same-sex relationship statuses normalizes same gender loving people. Don't get me wrong, I have very little desire to be "normal" by society's definition, but normalization does help stop society from treating people as if they are abnormal. And for that, I "like" Facebook's new relationship statuses.
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