Facebook Tells Woman to Remove Posts Opposing Men in Women's Bathrooms
Facebook has attempted to censor a Washington woman who posted viral meme-like photos opposing the push to allow men who self identify as female into women's bathrooms after some angry viewers falsely flagged her post for "nudity."
In photos posted to Facebook earlier this month, Kristi Merritt of Lakewood, Washington, dressed up in a series of costumes to prove her point that no matter what or who she dressed up like, she will never actually be a what she appears to be in the photos.
One photo shows Merritt dressed up like a pirate, holding a sign that reads, "Does this make me a pirate?" Another photo shows Merritt wearing a sombrero and holding a Corona and a sign that states, "Does this make me a Mexican?" In another photo, Merritt wore a Russell Wilson Seattle Seahawks jersey while holding a football and a football helmet along with a sign that asks, "Does this make me Russell Wilson?"
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Merritt posted another photo showing a dress, purse and high-heel shoes laid out on the floor next to signs that read, "Then how can this make a man into a woman?"
Merritt, whose state enacted statewide regulations making it illegal to prohibit transgender individuals from using public bathrooms and other changing areas for the opposite biological sex last December, posted a political message along with the series of photos.
"A man in women's clothes does not make him a woman," Merritt wrote. "Men should not get to be in our bathrooms or lockers!"
Merritt's Facebook photos have been shared by over 111,000 people and have amassed thousands of likes.
In an update that was posted in the comment section of the photo series days later, Merritt explained that Facebook tried to get her to remove her pictures because they had been flagged for nudity despite the fact that Merritt was not even close to being naked or risque in the photos.
"Facebook is trying to make me remove this post, they are saying it has nudity in it. Here's what's happening. The people who want to censor me are reporting it as having nudity when clearly it does not," Merritt wrote in her April 16 update. "THIS IS HOW THE LEFTIST HATERS function, only they have free speech!!!!"
Merritt also posted a Facebook screengrab, which states that she must remove the indecent photos to keep her account activated.
Merritt also posted a screengrab of a complaint she filed with Facebook.
"There is absolutely no nudity in my photos ... people are harassing and bullying me to get it removed because they do not like my opinion and want to censor my free speech," Merritt wrote.
Merritt's post has also come under fire from left-wing media outlets who decried her post as being a "show of ignorance." Refinery29 called Merritt's post "transphobic" and a "socio-political problem."
Backlash to Merritt's post comes as some in the LGBT community and entertainers and businesses that advocate the agenda have pushed back strongly against a North Carolina law that prohibits local governments from passing ordinances that force businesses and institutions to allow transgender people into opposite sex bathrooms.
