Trans Activists are hijacking the Lobster Emoji till they add a Trans flag Emoji
229 replies, posted
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz-Rfn6JOLg
https://www.refinery29.uk/2018/07/205943/transgender-flag-emoji
What proportion of the emoji on your keyboard do you actually use? Chances are, you've never used the "aerial tramway" or the input symbol for Latin capital letters, and you probably didn't realise there was a passport control emoji. Suffice to say that Unicode, the body that decides which emoji appear on our keyboard, has created a great deal of pointless symbols.
But while there appears to be little (if any) demand for these emoji, one highly sought-after symbol has been completely overlooked: the transgender flag. The pink, blue and white Transgender Pride flag, created by American trans activist and author Monica Helms in 1999, was one of the most-requested emoji of last year (and the previous year), so it was only a matter of time before someone started a dedicated campaign for one.
Enter: Charlie Craggs. The trans activist, author and founder of Nail Transphobia (and Nail It) is spearheading a new campaign, Claws Out For Trans, alongside brand strategy consultancy Revolt, calling out Unicode for introducing a lobster emoji this year while long overlooking the transgender flag.
In protest, Craggs is calling on people to sign her petition and to use the lobster emoji as the unofficial transgender emoji until the flag is introduced. Not only does the use of the lobster highlight the random way emoji get chosen; by happy coincidence, it turns out the crustaceans are gynandromorphs, meaning they have both male and female characteristics.
"So until we get our flag we’re hijacking the lobster. Making it the unofficial, official trans symbol," the group says, "to show how much a real trans symbol would be used."
sounds dumb but ok
wow what an important issue the trans community is suffering from
i mean, why not
we have tons of emojis that are pretty niche so, why not
Not really dumb when the trans flag has been one of the most requested emoji symbols for two years straight but they add a lobster emoji because people are "frustrated and confused" that there isn't one.
It's just a campaign to show off unicode's terrible reasoning.
Can I get a flag for being fat?
That's kinda cool, clearly not a big deal but I don't think anyone is really pretending it is
Where is my Lancashire flag
At one point I'm thinking: "Why? Who the hell cares" But at the same time, there's so many emoji's no one uses anyway, so why not add one extra.
I want to get into the mind of someone who thinks that "hijacking" a lobster emoji is some sort of profound social statement.
For these kinds of news sites, it's all a big deal
tackling the real issues we face
Alright?
Speaking as a transperson I don't really care about a flag emoji but if people want one then cool I guess.
Someone whom earns money by manufacturing importance isn't really someone full of interesting ideas or provocative depth.
How do you "hijack" an emoji
Look guys I'm hijacking the letter e
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
For movements aiming at equality and equal rights and acceptance, they sure do have a lot of different flags
What's the argument to be made for a trans flag emoji, and what precedent would it set? What flags would necessarily be added as a result of this precedent and what flags would be denied based off of it
So because they want equality for the various groups, they should have the same flag? Why?
I mean why not? This doesnt hurt anyone and is kinda silly. I'm all for this.
It just strikes me as odd. I always thought that the whole Trans community was part of the LGBT group under the 'T' part of the whole LGBT thing which includes that colourful rainbow flag and therefore already represented.
That's the overall flag, but there are specific flags for each of the groups
The only concern I'd have is that when you set a precedent for one item in a category to have a right to it, then everyone else in that category has to get representation.
For example: if you have an American flag emoji, you have to have an emoji for ALL countries, which we do
So then what flags are included in such a category? the issue is not about whether or not we should have a trans flag, it's a question about whether or not we should have a category of sexual identity
But... What's the risk?
Overload to the point of uselessness.
Emojis have been overloaded with pointless shit for forever. Can you giveth to me that there needed to be a lobster emoji to begin with? And that some pride flags are gonna somehow suddenly make it too full
We already have country flags, as you pointed out, and we have gender symbols including both hermaphroditic and transgender symbols so I don't see why not.
Unicode Sex Symbols ♂ ♀ ⚤
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