In celebration of Pride, Facebook has unveiled a new tool that allows users to cover their Facebook photos with a rainbow filter.
When users visit the "Celebrate Pride" page, they see a preview of what their profile photo would look like with a rainbow filter with an option to use the photo as their profile photo.
The tool was released on Friday, the day of the U.S. Supreme Court's historic marriage equality ruling. In a 5 to 4 ruling, the Court determined that the Constitution guarantees every American the right to marry the person they love.
“Today, love prevailed and our nation became a more perfect union by affirming that all people are indeed created equal and justice belongs to everyone,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD. "With this decision, loving and committed same-sex couples can finally rest knowing their families are protected and their dignity is no longer up for public debate. But as we celebrate this watershed victory for fairness, we are reminded that marriage equality is a benchmark, not a finish line, and our work to bridge the gap to full acceptance for LGBT people continues.”
Since 2010, GLAAD has worked closely with Facebook to ensure the safety of and improve the experience for LGBT users. In October 2010, Facebook partnered with GLAAD and other national LGBT organizations to create "Network of Support," an educational initiative that works to combat anti-LGBT bullying online. GLAAD also worked with Facebook to reshape the way that the site responds to hateful, anti-LGBT comments posted on public pages. In 2011, GLAAD worked with Facebook to add 'In a domestic partnership' and 'In a civil union' options to users' profiles. In February, Facebook announced that it will expand gender options to include a free-form field. Now, if a user doesn't identify with any of the gender options listed on Facebook, they can simply write in their own.
Facebook also participates annually in GLAAD's anti-bullying campaign Spirit Day by 'going purple' on select national pages in a stand against bullying and to show its support for LGBT youth. Facebook became the first social media company to receive a GLAAD Media Award in 2012.