Laverne Cox's Wikipedia page was changed by someone on Capitol Hill


An anonymous user at a Congress IP address allegedly changed Laverne Cox's Wikipedia page because it was "too pro-trans."
Someone from within the House of Representatives building on Wednesday night inserted hate speech about the transgender community into Cox's page. The page originally stated that Orange is the New Black "contains the first ever women-in-prison narrative to be played by a real transgender woman." The change, however, made the entry state that the show contains "a real man pretending to be a woman."
The user also added a link to a National Review article arguing that Cox is "not a real woman." The user also claimed to be a congressional staff member, and said in a Wikipedia talk that certain Wikipedia articles are "too pro-trans."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
After the change was discovered, the IP address was banned from Wikipedia editing for a month.
John Valeron, a Wikipedia editor, issued a statement Thursday morning apologizing for the event and the user's "attempts at spreading hate speech." Valeron added that Wikipedia editors "must stop pussyfooting around this willful, long-term abuse just because it emanates from the U.S. House of Representatives."
Clearly, not everyone agrees with the user who made the change: Cox is nominated for an Emmy for her work on the Netflix series, and she graced Time's May cover, the first transgender person to do so.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
-
Having a mayor: Starmer's struggles with devolved leaders
Talking Point Andy Burnham made public criticisms of the Labour government policies without specifically naming Keir Starmer or Rachel Reeves
-
Why is Nasa facing a crisis?
Today's Big Question Trump administration proposes 25% cut to national space agency's budget in 'extinction-level event'
-
The 50-year battle for Western Sahara
The Explainer UK is latest country to back Moroccan plan to end decades-long dispute with Algerian-backed Polisario Front
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read