Technology / Internet
Facebook under fire for deleting fan page with gay men kissing
26 Mar 2012 at 06:31hrs | Views
The online social network giant, Facebook is under fire for deleting a fan page because it featured a photograph of two gay men kissing.
The social networking site reportedly removed a Spanish gay art group's 'offensive' picture because it 'infringed publishing rules' of not posting photos of a 'sexual' or 'delicate' nature.
The image, by renowned artist Juan Hidalgo, was being used by the Madrid-based Visible Culture LGBT group for its 'Gay Arts Looks For A Home' initiative.
Project organiser Pablo Peinado, who wants to create a Museum of Gay Culture in the Spanish capital, told El País: 'For Facebook, a kiss between two men must be a delicate question.'
Facebook has claimed its removal must be down to a 'technical issue' and has launched an investigation.
Mr Peinado posted the picture, donated by vanguard artist Mr Hidalgo after he had used it for his wedding invitation, on a fan page for his organisation.
He said: 'I wanted to create a small publicity campaign of the documentary that we have been preparing for eight years, then I received that email.
'It refers to a pre-historic code of ethics.'
The documentary, filmed in Madrid, brings together more than 1,000 works of 'gay and lesbian' art donated by more than 400 artists from 30 countries.
Mr Peinado said he wanted to given the film, which is mainly being financed by crowdfunding and a government grant, a little financial boost.
He said the grant 'does not cover all the costs that we have. We need, as a minimum, some €3,500 to pay all parties'.
And he revealed the film was 'important' because it would help the fight against homophobia.
He added: 'The ultimate objective of this documentary is to find a place where we can exhibit the works [that the association has collected] and convert it into a 'Museum of Gay culture'.
The social networking site reportedly removed a Spanish gay art group's 'offensive' picture because it 'infringed publishing rules' of not posting photos of a 'sexual' or 'delicate' nature.
The image, by renowned artist Juan Hidalgo, was being used by the Madrid-based Visible Culture LGBT group for its 'Gay Arts Looks For A Home' initiative.
Project organiser Pablo Peinado, who wants to create a Museum of Gay Culture in the Spanish capital, told El País: 'For Facebook, a kiss between two men must be a delicate question.'
Facebook has claimed its removal must be down to a 'technical issue' and has launched an investigation.
Mr Peinado posted the picture, donated by vanguard artist Mr Hidalgo after he had used it for his wedding invitation, on a fan page for his organisation.
'It refers to a pre-historic code of ethics.'
The documentary, filmed in Madrid, brings together more than 1,000 works of 'gay and lesbian' art donated by more than 400 artists from 30 countries.
Mr Peinado said he wanted to given the film, which is mainly being financed by crowdfunding and a government grant, a little financial boost.
He said the grant 'does not cover all the costs that we have. We need, as a minimum, some €3,500 to pay all parties'.
And he revealed the film was 'important' because it would help the fight against homophobia.
He added: 'The ultimate objective of this documentary is to find a place where we can exhibit the works [that the association has collected] and convert it into a 'Museum of Gay culture'.
Source - Daily Mail
