Facebook Honored for Inclusive Work

Facebook was honored for its inclusive work at the GLAAD Media Awards in S.F.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

June 04 2012 2:54 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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At Saturday's 23rd annual GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation honored Facebook with a Special Recognition Award for its inclusive work in creating a welcoming space for LGBT people.

The award initially stems from Facebook working with GLAAD after the social media site was inundated with antigay messages and images during the first Spirit Day in 2010. That effort, initiated by teen Brittany McMillan, encourages people to wear purple and change their Facebook profile to that color in order to call attention to antigay bullying. Facebook has since worked to remove hateful comments from status updates, at the same time allowing people to identify themselves as LGBT and announce themselves as married to same-sex partners.

The award was presented by McMillan to Facebook staffers Andrew Noyes and Sara Sperling. Sperling spoke about how Facebook brought two lesbians together in the United Arab Emirates. Watch Noyes and Sperling accept their award below and read more here.