Meta deleted nonbinary and trans themes for its Messenger app this week, around the same time that the company announced it would change its rules to allow users to declare that LGBTQ+ people are “mentally ill,”.
With several themes, users of Meta’s Messenger program can alter the chat windows’ colour scheme and appearance. For instance, among many other themes, there are currently “Minecraft,” “Basketball,” “Squid Game,” and “Love” themes.
Although these themes fluctuate frequently, in recent years they have included a “trans” and a “nonbinary” theme, with colour schemes that corresponded to the trans and non-binary pride flags, respectively.
Meta did not respond to a request for comment about why the company removed these themes, but the change came right as Mark Zuckerberg’s company was publicly and loudly shifting rightward to align itself more closely with the views of the incoming Donald Trump administration.
Media reported Thursday that many employees are protesting the anti-LGBTQ+ changes and that “it’s total chaos internally at Meta right now” because of the changes.
The trans-themed initiative for Pride Month was announced in June 2021, followed by a nonbinary theme announcement in June 2022. Both announcements, shared through blog posts showcasing Meta’s support for trans and nonbinary communities, are no longer available online.
While other Messenger update blogs have been relocated from the original website to Meta’s newsroom, these specific posts remain absent.
The trans theme announcement originally stated: “This June and beyond, we want people to #ConnectWithPride because when we show up as the most authentic version of ourselves, we can truly connect with people.
“Starting today, in support of the LGBTQ+ community and allies, Messenger is launching new expression features and celebrating the artists and creators who not only developed them but inspire us each and every day.”
