University of Texas students Bobbi Duncan and Taylor McCormick were unintentionally outed on Facebook when the president of a student LGBT chorus added them to the choir’s Facebook group to share the rehearsal schedule.
Facebook’s software told all of Bobbi’s and Taylor’s friends they had joined the group, something the head of the Queer Chorus didn’t realize would happen. Both of the students had privacy settings up but anyone can be added to a group by a friend without their consent.
Sadly, both students had been careful to shield their activity from their respective parents, who did not respond well to the outings.
Bobbi’s father “left vitriolic messages on her phone, demanding she renounce same-sex relationships, and threatening to sever family ties.” Pleasant. Taylor’s dad didn’t speak to him for three weeks.
It’s extremely sad that the privacy loophole forced the students to come out to their family before they were ready, but hopefully Bobbi’s and Taylor’s parents will stop their negativity and support their children.
Meanwhile, Zuckerberg — get your shit together.
