In a world where professionalism and respect should be non-negotiable, LinkedIn has long set itself apart from the chaos of other platforms. It’s where people network, collaborate, and build careers. It’s where diverse voices, across cultures, industries, and identities, are meant to be heard without fear of harassment.
That’s why this week’s quiet change is so disappointing.
Between July 28–30, 2025, LinkedIn quietly removed the explicit line in its hate speech rules that protected transgender people from misgendering and dead-naming.
No announcement. No explanation. Just… gone.
We Noticed!
LinkedIn still says attacks based on identity are not allowed. But that’s not the same thing as having clear, explicit protections written into the policy.
Words matter, especially in policy.
Removing these examples sends a message, intentional or not:
- That misgendering and deadnaming are now in a grey area.
- That protecting trans people is suddenly less important.
- That this is no longer worth stating publicly.
For a platform built on professionalism and respect, this feels like a step backwards.
This Isn’t Happening in Isolation.
LinkedIn is not the first platform to back away from explicit trans protections.
Earlier this year, Meta (Facebook, Instagram, Threads, WhatsApp) changed its policies to allow users to say that LGBTQ+ people are “mentally ill” or “abnormal.”
Leaked moderation training examples even included phrases like: “Trans people aren’t real. They’re mentally ill.” Or “a trans person isn’t a he or she, it’s an it.”
While Meta framed this as part of “free expression,” LGBTQ+ advocates saw it for what it is: a dangerous dilution of protections, at a time when trans people face increasing hostility in the real world.
When platforms with billions of users decide that open disrespect is just another opinion, the ripple effects are enormous.
When platforms with billions of users decide that open disrespect is just another opinion, the ripple effects are enormous.
LinkedIn, We Expected More.
LinkedIn has always stood out as the platform for serious conversations; where people connect around expertise, opportunity, and innovation.
This is exactly why your move feels so out of step with your values. By removing explicit protections, you’ve sent a signal (whether intentional or not) that trans people’s dignity is negotiable.
You didn’t tell us why.
You didn’t even tell us it happened.
So we’re Asking: Why?
Why dilute protections that cost you nothing, but mean everything to the people they safeguard?
Why risk your reputation as the professional social network by quietly aligning with a worrying industry trend?
Why choose silence instead of transparency?
Do Better.
LinkedIn has the opportunity to lead, not follow, when it comes to making online spaces respectful, inclusive, and professional.
We ask of you to:
– Reinstate explicit protections against misgendering and deadnaming.
– Stand by the principle that dignity at work and online is not up for debate.
Because your members are watching.
And we thought you were better than this.
If you like this post, please subscribe/share/like
Share ‘LinkedIn… Why? We Thought You Were Better Than This.‘ with others
Donate to Amelia’s Angels!
Everything we do: life coaching, support, advocacy ETC, is offered free. But a few kind people have asked how they can support the work, so this is a way to do that if you’d like to. What we’re building here will need funding down the line.
Discover more from Amelia's Angels
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
