Read on Twitter
Keep seeing people ask “why is verifying AVEN ( @asexuality) important, why we’re frustrated with their response today, and why so many of us are talking about it so here we go #VerifyAVEN
Okay so first of all, no advocacy groups for asexuality and/or aromanticism have been verified by Twitter. And I t’s not just AVEN that deserves it. AVEN is not the only advocacy organization for ace stuff. They’re the biggest, and are coming up on 20 years, but not the only one.
Asexuality and aromanticism are both orientations/spectrums that are not seen much even within the LGBTQIA+ community. One of the biggest motivators for me personally is that if this stuff had better exposure, I would’ve known years earlier.
Exposure helps not only educate people who may be ace & aro. It also helps our families & friends accept us. It helps us avoid things like being treated as if it’s an illness. It helps us not feel alone - we get depressed too, y’know. Being seen matters.
It’s the same reason representation matters. It matters not just in fiction - here we’re talking about a concrete way it would matter in real life. It would make a statement that Twitter supports asexuality and if they verify aro groups, aromanticism as well.
One thing that would really help more of us get seen, help us be taken more seriously, help those looking for answers & help the overall branding of AVEN would be verifying AVEN. That’s what verification does - it says “you’re official.”
And @Twitter doesn’t see us. They don’t. They don’t take down accounts that harass us. They were silent during #AceWeek. Many of us have called them out and used the tag #VerifyAVEN before. They have never responded. Not once.
The one time they have responded was to this tweet by @kat_veil. And it was to say that applications for verification are closed on a survey about how we as users feel about the verification process. https://twitter.com/TwitterSupport/status/1331671915174522881
Months of asking. Months of the tags. Months of pointing out “hey it seems like there’s a blatant double standard here in how you treat aces & aros VS other things?” No response. Nothing. And now a response that says they’re not listening to the feedback.
And some people have been asking for years. YEARS. I haven’t been here that long (I think sometimes you folx forget I’ve only been writing & advocating since June?) but I am already so frustrated.
Saying “hey I’m frustrated that Twitter ignores these things, ignores us, and refuses to verify one of the largest advocacy groups for asexuality, as well as any for aromanticism, what’s up with that” IS feedback.
As @soundsfakepod aptly put it when it was brought up in June: https://twitter.com/soundsfakepod/status/1275610479029891072
And the one time there’s a response it was to say that they aren’t doing that right now. Even though we know they are. I know that because I’ve watched people get verified within the last year. We’ve all seen it.
We also know they know who AVEN is because one person verified this year was @theyasminbenoit - who is on the AVEN Board of Directors. She’s the first aroace advocate I’ve seen verified and it’s huge - but there doesn’t seem to be any reason they stopped there.
And again, it’s not just AVEN. Aromantics aren’t even listed as a protected group under the TOS. Aces are. But it’s not as if when we get harassment- and believe me we do - Twitter finds the account was violating its community guidelines.
It would be a HUGE move of @Twitter to verify @asexuality. It would show support that has been long overdue. We’re not asking much. Just for them to put their money where they’re mouth is.
And while they’re at it they should support aromantic organizations like @aromantic_aurea too. And add aros to the TOS as a protected group. And then actually remove accounts that harass us.
So I hope that explains enough. If not, I don’t know what else to say right now. I’m not trying to start drama. I want one of the largest social networks on the planet to recognize & support a lesser known group of people. That’s it. Take it for what you will.
Ace - short for asexual and/or asexuality spectrum
Aro - short for aromantics and/or aromantic spectrum
TOS - Terms of service
Aro - short for aromantics and/or aromantic spectrum
TOS - Terms of service
I know there are other threads on this and I’m trying to find & add them
This is a good one by @soundsfakepod https://twitter.com/soundsfakepod/status/1237139524251267077
A good thread on why it makes a difference offline too https://twitter.com/HayrunnB/status/1300373917157060609
As @LiamODellUK aptly put it: https://twitter.com/LiamODellUK/status/1331302543322968070
