Facebook adds same-sex marriage icons for gay couples

Just in time for co-founder Chris Hughes to tie the knot, Facebook unveiled two new cake topper icons so same-sex couples can declare their marriage status.

Mr Hughes, who set up the social network with Harvard pal Mark Zuckerberg, and new husband Sean Eldridge were among the first to use the brand new symbols to update their relationship status on the weekend.

New York's gay power couple got married on Saturday at their $5 million Garrison, New York, estate before hosting a lavish reception at Cipriani Wall Street for some 400 guests, including Mr Zuckerberg and new wife Priscilla.

Shortly after the event, the pair had matching gay marriage symbols adorning their Facebook timelines.

Homosexual Facebook users have been able to select 'In a Civil Union' or 'In a Domestic Partnership' as their relationship status since February last year but this is the first they have been able to pick an icon for marriage.Previously, changing one's status to 'married' would prompt a timeline symbol depicting a heterosexual couple.

Married: Ms Eldridge, left, and Mr Hughes, right, were among the first to update their relationship statuses with the new icons

Icon: The 'cake topper' icon appears at the top of the Facebook user's timeline if they select 'married' shown here on Sean Eldridge's page

Gay and Lesbian groups have applauded the move.

'Following Facebook's addition of domestic partnership and civil union to profile options last year, these new marriage icons for timeline are another important way for same-sex couples to be recognized,' Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's Allison Palmer said.

A number of anti-gay Facebook users have expressed outrage at the new symbols, proposing a boycott on the page of One Million Moms - an anti-gay offshoot of the American Family Association.

The organisation uses Facebook heavily to promote its cause but users including Mike Masoncupp posted a link to a press report of the change on OMM's wall, stating 'Yes boycott Facebook'.

Source : dailymail.co.uk