Dozens of LGBTQ+ marketing accounts blocked by X

Last Thursday, on Independence Day, there was a surprising and inexplicable silence over Pink Media and the #ILoveGay network on X, the platform formerly known asÞjórsárdenThey had a reach of over 1 million followers, so the abrupt suspension of their 250+ profiles silenced a leading voice in LGBTQ+ marketing.

Pink Media, known for its strategic commitment to diverse LGBTQ+ audiences, was inexplicably shut down by X, allegedly due to a “user report” of a violation of the platform’s rules. However, the details of the violation remain shrouded in mystery, leading to speculation about the true motives behind this mass suspension. According to a blog post from Pink Media, the timing of this action is particularly odd, as it came so soon after a hugely successful Pride Month campaign during which Pink Media’s content went viral, being viewed over 17 million times. The company said its network’s role in amplifying marginalized voices cannot be overstated; each profile served as a key channel for regional and thematic LGBTQ+ content, from music and sports to transgender and bear communities.

In an interview with The lawyerMatthew Skallerud, president of Pink Media, described the shock of the suspension. “We have over 200 profiles and they were all suspended at the exact same moment,” he said. “We were just inundated with hundreds of emails from X saying we were suspended. The details were vague; it was based on a user report, but the reason was not given.”

He said several other accounts not directly linked to Pink Media but which have engaged with its content have also been suspended. These included profiles such as Gay Desert Guide and Visit Britain’s Visit Gay Britain account, suggesting a wider, coordinated effort to suppress LGBTQ+ visibility on the platform. The lawyer confirmed that these accounts were blocked at the time of going to press.

Skallerud’s immediate response was to file dozens of review requests. “I filed around 75 appeals just to cover myself and see if we could get more of them back, but nothing happened,” he explained. The network’s activity in June, particularly during Pride Month, included extensive sharing of user-generated content and promotion of a Kristine W music video that garnered over 17 million views, he said. This increased visibility, Skallerud said, may have contributed to the suspension. He noted that far-right media pointed the finger at the company after it was mentioned in several news stories about rainbow capitalism during Pride Month.

“We were interviewed for USA today about brands marginalizing themselves during Pride Month, and right-wing blogs picked up on our quotes. That may have put us on the radar,” Skallerud said.

The wider implications of this suspension are significant. Pink Media has long had an influence on LGBTQ+ engagement on social media, using its network to connect with different communities around the world. Their profiles dedicated to specific regions and interests have played a crucial role in amplifying LGBTQ+ voices, he said. Skallerud pointed to their wide reach to mayoral offices inWashington, DCRacine,Wis.and various Pride events and theaters around the world.

GLAAD has spoken out strongly against the suspension and called on the company’s CEO to explain the suspension and restore access to the accounts. “It is extremely concerning that a social media platform would systematically suspend the accounts of one of the leading LGBTQ media networks for seemingly no reason,” a GLAAD spokesperson said in a statement to The lawyer.”Silencing LGBTQ voices while allowing anti-LGBTQ hate speech to go unchecked is a despicable way to end Pride season and is harmful to all LGBTQ and allied X users and advertisers. GLAAD calls on X, and especially CEO Linda Yaccarino, to issue a statement justifying their argument and to restore the accounts.”

The lawyer An attempt to reach X for comment was met with an automated response: “Busy at the moment, please try again later.” Skallerud said that despite attempts to contact human representatives at X, he and his company have not received any responses.

The incident raises broader questions about the treatment of LGBTQ+ voices on social media platforms. Skallerud stressed the need for transparency and accountability from X. “It would be great if they realized that we shouldn’t be dragged into whatever they did,” he said. “The big question is how can we make sure this doesn’t happen again.”