Princess MoMo

On my birthday, in the midst of thanking my Facebook friends for taking time out of their day to wish me a good one, my Facebook account was suspended.  Why?  Because, apparently, the Facebook overlords felt I was not using my “real name.”  I reviewed Facebook’s name policy, which reads, in pertinent part, as follows (as of 10/16/14):

“We require people to provide the name they use in real life; that way, you always know who you’re connecting with.”

Incidentally, the language of the policy had been changed (just days before my name was stripped from me) through the instrumental work of many people like Sister Roma, who challenged Facebook’s former policy which prevented her from using her stage name.  Indeed, Facebook’s Chief Product Officer, Christopher Cox, had issued an apology on behalf of Facebook’s for forcing people to part with their identities on this form of social media.  Nevertheless, less than a week after that apology, I was forced to change my “stage name.”  A week later, my account was once again suspended and I was informed that I could not reactivate it without providing government ID.  That, however, is inconsistent with Facebook’s own policy.

In response to the following dialogue box, I wrote to Facebook.

My message:

“I was experiencing my birthday when the problem occurred.  I expected to enjoy the kind and thoughtful birthday wishes people shared on my Facebook page.  What actually happened is that Facebook suspended my account for purportedly using a “fake name.” Upon my review of Facebook’s name policy, I was indeed in compliance.  After many drag queens complained of Facebook’s draconian response to their use of stage name, Facebook made the change to its policy from requiring one to use their government name to their “real life name.” Yet after this policy change and an apology from Chris Cox, Facebook still insisted on stripping me of the name that I do in fact use in real life (Princess MoMo).  It is Facebook that is violating its own policy in requiring that I show ID proving my name.  Please reconsider reinstating my account under my name. Princess MoMo.”

Not surprisingly, I received a form response redirecting me elsewhere:

I have been using the name Princess MoMo in “real life” since 2008.  I blog under this name and almost everyone I know refers to me by this name.  It is unjustified according to Facebook’s own policy to require me to use my government name when, in fact, the policy requires use of one’s “real life” name.  Unless and until Facebook reinstates my account under my name, Princess MoMo, I will not be using it.