Twitter Bans Anti-LGBT Hate Group Westboro Baptist Church
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Twitter has allegedly suspended the accounts of a fundamental anti-LGBT baptist church and its leader.
LGBT website Pink News reported the accounts of Westboro Baptist Church (@WBCsays) and Shirley Phelps-Roeper (@WBCShirl) were both removed by Twitter on Wednesday. One user claiming to be Phelps-Roeper told Pink News in a tweet it's backlash from the group's "God Hates The Media Tour" in August.
The group, accompanied by their typical spread of anti-LGBT signs, traveled to the headquarters of Silicon Valley tech companies -- including Twitter, Facebook, Skype and Apple -- to protest against the media's so-called attempt to "to vilify, marginalize and demonize the servants of God at Westboro Baptist Church."
It's unclear why other Westboro Baptist Church accounts, like @WBCsigns and @WBCSaysRepent, remain accessible despite their equally offensive tweets.
Twitter has not yet responded to CBS SF's email request for comment.
Last month, Twitter improved its guidelines for reporting abuse among users after several high-profile cases around the world, including the ongoing harassment tied to Gamergate and the tweets that forced Zelda Williams off Twitter after her father's death.
