WASHINGTON–Rep. Jim Banks, a Republican who represents northeastern Indiana in Washington, was suspended from using his official Twitter page Saturday. Twitter said Banks violated their hateful speech code of conduct when he intentionally referred to Health and Human Services assistant secretary for health Rachel Levine as a man.
“I won’t back down,” Banks wrote on his personal account. “I’ll be posting on my personal account for the time being.”
Twitter said Banks could unlock his account upon deleting the Tweet.
Levine is the first transgender person to reach four star rank in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Levine was born a man and Banks referred to Levine as such.
Twitter’s code includes suspension for “targeted misgendering or deadnaming of transgender individuals.”
Dazu Jason Miller
NICHT - MIT - UNS German Media Watch BLOG 