CAP + Our House + Prism Health Leaves Twitter
CAP, Our House, & Prism Health have decided to suspend use of our Twitter accounts immediately due to Twitter quietly removing its longstanding policy aimed at protecting transgender folks from targeted misgendering and deadnaming, both of which are considered as forms of hate speech. It is our belief that Social media companies must commit to fostering safe environments for LGBTQIA+ folks rather than eliminating policies which protect them.
Twitter has proven to be a contentious platform since its acquisition by Elon Musk, and subsequent policy changes since he assumed leadership have caused Twitter to devolve into an unsafe platform for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC folks. There has been a notable rise in anti-trans and anti-LGBTQIA+ tweets. Anti-Black and antisemitic tweets have also increased, leading to a platform that is loaded with hate speech and misinformation. Much of this shift has happened under the guise of bringing "free speech" back to the platform, but in the end, we strongly feel that this creates a space that isn’t conducive to cultivating healthy communications within our community.
Purposeful communication requires an honest and transparent dialogue in spaces that respect our lived experiences and honor everyone’s safety. By dispatching LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC safety within its platform, Twitter has moved out of synch with its peers like TikTok, Pinterest, and Meta (Facebook/Instagram), all of whom maintain policies to protect users.
With 430+ pieces of legislation nationwide that launch attacks on healthcare, education, public places and services, and drag performers or entertainment, 2023 is on pace to be a record-setting year for state legislation targeting LGBTQIA+ adults and youth. Instead of being complicit and complacent in this new landscape, we feel a shift towards community cultivation and safety is essential. It is a moment to uplift those who are most vulnerable and most marginalized and, simultaneously, to denounce those who abuse their power to cause harm to our communities
The direction Twitter has taken does not align with our agency’s mission, vision, or values, and we can no longer continue to utilize the platform as a safe and effective way of communicating with our community members. Effective immediately, we have withdrawn from the Twitter platform. To stay up to date with everything happening across our agency, we encourage you to connect with us on our other channels including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Vimeo, and our websites. We also have a monthly newsletter, The Loop, which is a great way to stay in the know. We are proud to continue to cultivate a healthy, safe, compassionate, and affirming community with you all, and we look forward to connecting with you on those platforms.
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About Cascade AIDS Project
CAP is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1985 as a grassroots response to the AIDS crisis. As the oldest and largest community-based HIV services provider in Oregon and southwest Washington, we seek to support and empower all people with or affected by HIV, reduce stigma, and provide the LGBTQ+ community with compassionate healthcare. We do so by helping to ensure the health and well-being of our program participants each year through health, housing, and other social services. When the need for affordable, accessible, and culturally affirming primary care services was identified as a community need, we responded by opening Prism Health in 2017. More information can be found at www.capnw.org.
