Meta’s recent decision to remove anti-LGBTQ+ hate speech policies and end fact-checking on its platforms Facebook, Instagram, and Threads is nothing short of catastrophic for online safety. According to GLAAD, this move dismantles vital protections for marginalised communities and sets a dangerous precedent. It’s not just a step backwards it’s a staggering regression that leaves millions more exposed to hate, harassment, and misinformation.

The backlash has been swift. Many LGBTQ+ individuals and allies are abandoning Meta’s platforms entirely, citing a growing sense of insecurity. These platforms, once spaces for connection and empowerment, are now signalling to the world that safety is no longer a priority.

This isn’t just about us. This is about everyone.

A Dangerous Betrayal of Trust

For years, Meta’s anti-hate policies provided at least some measure of accountability. They weren’t perfect, but they offered a layer of protection against the relentless abuse many of us face online. Their removal is a betrayal. It sends a clear message that our safety and our lives are negotiable.

What’s even more concerning is how this move aligns with broader political currents. It feels like a behind-the-scenes handshake with Trump-era Republicans, who champion a warped notion of “free speech” while conveniently ignoring its consequences. It’s all well and good to talk about freedom of expression, but where’s the accountability for harm? Words have power. They can incite violence, spread misinformation, and destroy lives.

Meta’s decision mirrors what we’ve already seen with Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter). Musk gutted moderation teams and stripped back safety policies, creating a breeding ground for hate. The results were predictable: anti-LGBTQ+ hate soared, misinformation ran rampant, and the platform became increasingly hostile to marginalised groups. Now Meta seems intent on following the same disastrous path.

The Human Cost of Hate Speech

Let’s be clear: hate speech isn’t just “offensive”. It has real, devastating consequences.

For LGBTQ+ people, the constant barrage of online abuse fuels mental health crises, silences voices, and pushes people further into isolation. And it doesn’t stop there. People of colour, women, religious minorities, disabled individuals, and countless others will also bear the brunt of these changes.

Without fact-checking, misinformation spreads unchecked, poisoning public discourse and threatening democracy. Without protections, hate thrives, making social media a hostile space where the most vulnerable are targeted simply for existing.

We feel this deeply not just for ourselves, but for everyone who will suffer because of these reckless decisions. Innocent people will be attacked and abused. Communities will be torn apart. And the platforms responsible will shrug and call it “free speech”.

We Deserve Better

Meta’s actions aren’t just dangerous they’re inhumane. The idea that stripping back protections will foster a better environment is absurd. What it will do is embolden bad actors to spew hate and misinformation with impunity.

The LGBTQ+ community has fought too hard and come too far to let this go unanswered. We’ve always had to fight for our right to exist safely and authentically and we will continue to do so.

This is a moment to call out corporations like Meta for what they are: complicit. Complicit in normalising hate. Complicit in enabling harm. Complicit in turning their backs on the communities that built them.

A Call to Action

To everyone reading this, know that your voice matters. We must hold these platforms accountable. Speak up, call out this regression, and stand with marginalised communities. We must demand better because the alternative is unthinkable.

The internet should be a place where we can connect, learn, and grow. It should not be a place where hate is allowed to thrive unchecked.

We are watching. We are fighting. And we won’t stop until the safety and dignity of all people LGBTQ+ and beyond are protected.

This fight isn’t over. It’s only just beginning!

Support and Resources for LGBTQ+ Communities

If you or someone you know is affected by these changes or is in need of support, reach out to these organisations:

UK Contacts:

•	Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline: 0300 330 0630 
•	Mind (LGBTQ+ Mental Health Support): 0300 123 3393

US Contacts:

•	Trevor Project (Crisis Support for LGBTQ+ Youth): 1-866-488-7386 
•	National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988

We must continue to support one another as we navigate this turbulent time. Together, we can resist these changes and push back against the forces that seek to divide us.

All of our articles are written by members of the LGBTQ+ community or allies.

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