In a move that has ignited fierce backlash from LGBTQ advocacy groups and civil rights organizations, Elon Musk, owner of Twitter (now X), announced that the platform would permit users to freely misgender others, including through pronoun usage. The decision, revealed in a tweet on the first day of Pride Month, has led to accusations of cyberbullying and a heated debate over the boundaries of free speech and online harassment.

Musk’s Policy Shift: “Free Speech” or Cyberbullying?

Elon Musk, the billionaire tech mogul known for his controversial statements and hands-on management style, made the announcement in response to a complaint from Jeremy Boreing, co-CEO of the conservative media outlet The Daily Wire. Boreing claimed that Twitter had blocked the distribution of a video opposing trans rights, framing the issue as a matter of free expression.

Musk replied, “It is definitely allowed. Whether or not you agree with using someone’s preferred pronouns, not doing so is at most rude and certainly breaks no laws.” He further clarified that while he personally uses people’s preferred pronouns out of good manners, he would not require Twitter users to do the same.

This policy shift marks a departure from Twitter’s previous stance. Under the company’s former leadership, intentional misgendering—using pronouns other than those a person identifies with—was considered a form of hateful conduct and prohibited under the platform’s rules since 2018. However, in April, Twitter quietly rolled back this rule without a public announcement, reflecting a broader trend of Musk’s hands-off approach to content moderation.

Backlash from LGBTQ Advocates

The reaction from LGBTQ organizations was swift and severe. Many advocates accused Musk of enabling a culture of harassment and bullying against transgender and nonbinary users.

“Twitter was once a place where many marginalized people, including LGBTQ people, found community, and it’s become hostile,” said Laurel Powell, spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, in a phone interview. “What we’re seeing isn’t really about censorship or discrimination of ideas. It’s about the kind of company Twitter wants to be and the kind of world they want to shape.”

Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, echoed these concerns. “This will only increase hate speech that has harmed our community within social media spaces,” he said in a statement, warning that the new policy could have real-world consequences for the mental health and safety of trans and nonbinary people.

Heng-Lehtinen pointed to a 2020 survey from The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization, which found that transgender and nonbinary youth who had their pronouns respected attempted suicide at half the rate of those whose pronouns were not respected. “Lives are at risk,” he emphasized.

GLAAD, the LGBTQ media advocacy group, also condemned the policy change. “Elon Musk continues to double down on making his already struggling site less safe for users, and even less appealing for advertisers,” the organization said in a statement. GLAAD noted that the previous policy was not just about protecting individuals but also reassuring advertisers who do not want their brands associated with bullying or hate speech.

A History of Controversy

This is not the first time Musk has courted controversy over LGBTQ issues. He has previously mocked trans people and accused trans rights advocates of hypocrisy in a series of tweets. Last year, one of Musk’s children filed a legal petition to change her name and have her gender officially recognized as female, stating she no longer wished to be related to Musk “in any way, shape or form.”

Musk’s stance on pronouns and gender identity has become emblematic of the broader culture wars playing out on social media platforms. The billionaire has positioned himself as a champion of “free speech absolutism,” arguing that open debate—even when offensive—is essential to democracy. However, critics argue that this approach ignores the power imbalances and real-life harm caused by online harassment.

The Debate Over Pronouns and Free Speech

At the heart of the controversy is the question of whether misgendering constitutes protected speech or targeted harassment. For many trans and nonbinary people, being addressed by correct pronouns is a matter of dignity and respect. Deliberate misgendering, they argue, is not just rude but a form of bullying that can lead to exclusion, anxiety, and even self-harm.

Musk, however, sees things differently. “I should note that I do personally use someone’s preferred pronouns, just as I use someone’s preferred name, simply from the standpoint of good manners,” he wrote in his tweet. “However, for the same reason, I object to rude behavior, ostracism or threats of violence if the wrong pronoun or name is used.”

Supporters of Musk’s policy argue that enforcing pronoun use amounts to compelled speech and infringes on individual freedoms. They claim that allowing users to choose their language—even if it is offensive to some—is a necessary part of free and open discourse.

The Impact on Twitter/X

Since Musk’s takeover, Twitter has undergone dramatic changes, including mass layoffs, the reinstatement of previously banned accounts, and a loosening of content moderation policies. These moves have been praised by some as a restoration of free speech but criticized by others as creating a more toxic and dangerous environment for marginalized communities.

Many users and advocacy groups say that the rollback of protections for trans and nonbinary people has made the platform less welcoming and more hostile. Some advertisers have pulled back spending, citing concerns about brand safety and association with hate speech.

The debate over pronouns is just one front in a broader struggle over the future of online communities. As platforms like Twitter grapple with issues of speech, safety, and inclusivity, the decisions made by their leaders have far-reaching consequences for public discourse and the well-being of vulnerable groups.

What’s Next?

For now, Musk shows no signs of reversing course. He remains committed to what he describes as a “free speech” vision for Twitter, even in the face of mounting criticism. LGBTQ groups, meanwhile, vow to continue fighting for stronger protections and greater accountability.

“This is about more than just pronouns,” said Powell of the Human Rights Campaign. “It’s about whether social media is a place where everyone can participate safely and with dignity.”

As Pride Month continues, the controversy over Twitter’s pronoun policy is likely to intensify, highlighting the ongoing tensions between free expression and the need for respectful, inclusive communities online.