Facebook apologizes to Franklin Graham for deleting HB2 post
Facebook has apologized to evangelist Franklin Graham after temporarily banning him from the site due to a April 2016 post about North Carolina’s House Bill 2, known as "the bathroom bill."
The site banned the evangelist for 24 hours two years ago after he posted about Bruce Springsteen canceling a North Carolina concert because of the bill.
In the post, Graham shared a Washington Post article and wrote:
“Bruce Springsteen, a long-time gay rights activist, has canceled his North Carolina concert. He says the NC law #HB2 to prevent men from being able to use women's restrooms and locker rooms is going "backwards instead of forwards." Well, to be honest, we need to go back! Back to God. Back to respecting and honoring His commands. Back to common sense. Mr. Springsteen, a nation embracing sin and bowing at the feet of godless secularism and political correctness is not progress. I’m thankful North Carolina has a governor, Pat McCrory, and a lieutenant governor, Dan Forest, and legislators who put the safety of our women and children first! HB2 protects the safety and privacy of women and children and preserves the human rights of millions of faith-based citizens of this state.”
Facebook originally said the post went against their community standards on hate speech, but on Sunday, the site issued an apology to Graham, indicating they made a mistake. Graham posted the apology to Facebook.
Graham, 66, is one of evangelist Billy Graham's five children. He lives in Boone, North Carolina and serves as the President of Samaritan's Purse and of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
