More than 100 LGBTQ+ and sexual health-related Instagram accounts have reportedly been suspended or restricted in Meta’s latest round of account purges, which saw follower counts drop for almost every account in recent weeks. The move is raising fresh concerns about Meta’s moderation policies and the censorship of queer creators online.
According to Repro Uncensored, an advocacy group that tracks online censorship affecting reproductive and sexual health content, the affected accounts include LGBTQ+ creators, queer organisations, drag performers, nightlife venues, and sexual health educators.
“These cases demonstrate a broader pattern affecting queer communities, women’s and sexual health content, artists, cultural spaces, and even music festivals,” Repro Uncensored said in a statement.
“These accounts function as arteries of community and infrastructure. They are spaces where people share vital healthcare and sexual information, organise, create, and stay connected, and where communities actively shape participatory democracies.”
Sydney Sauna loses Instagram account
Last week, Oxford Street institution Sydney Sauna confirmed its official Instagram account had been permanently suspended.
In a statement, Sydney Sauna said it lost the account, which had more than 5,000 followers, on Sunday, 29 March, without any prior warnings or flagged content from Meta.
“At no point did we use the platform to solicit or promote harmful or illegal activity,” the sauna said. “We operate as a licensed hospitality venue, providing a safe, inclusive environment for consenting adults to connect.”
The suspension has caused concern among LGBTQIA+ venues and community spaces that rely on social media to share information, promote events, and stay connected with patrons.
Queer venues and performers affected
Similar reports have emerged overseas.
Dutch outlet NL Times reported that several Amsterdam-based LGBTQIA+ venues and organisations were also suspended, including The Queer Agenda, Club Church, drag venue The House of Bodega, and Nieuwezijds sauna.
The account for Amsterdam drag performer Sederginne was also reportedly removed.
Several queer nightlife promoters said they temporarily lost access to event pages and community information used to organise parties and performances.
Sexual health organisations have also reportedly been affected. Repro Uncensored said accounts sharing information about HIV prevention, reproductive health, and LGBTQ+ safe sex education were among those suspended or hidden from search results.
Some creators said they received no explanation for the removals, while others reported that appeals were automatically rejected.
Meta faces renewed scrutiny
The controversy follows several recent disputes over Meta’s moderation of queer content.
Last week, Meta’s independent Oversight Board overturned the removal of an Instagram post from Brazil celebrating lesbian relationships, after the company had flagged it under its adult sexual exploitation policies.
In its ruling, the Oversight Board said: “The case highlights Meta’s repeated errors in two areas: enforcing exceptions to its Hateful Conduct policy for the use of slurs self-referentially and/or in an empowering way; and the moderation of content involving carousels.”
Meta has denied claims that LGBTQ+ users are being unfairly targeted, saying enforcement actions relate to its policies on sexual solicitation and adult content.
“Every organisation and individual on our platforms is subject to the same set of rules, and any claims of enforcement based on group affiliation or advocacy are baseless. We also give people the opportunity to appeal decisions if they think we’ve got it wrong,” a Meta spokesperson told Mashable.
However, advocates say the suspensions point to a wider pattern in which LGBTQ+ community spaces, sexual health educators, and queer creators are disproportionately affected by moderation systems.
Meta has also faced criticism over broader changes to its LGBTQ+ moderation policies. In January 2025, the company loosened parts of its hate speech rules to allow more “discourse around transgenderism and homosexuality”, language that prompted immediate backlash from advocates and researchers.
For queer creators and organisations, the latest suspensions have renewed concerns about how social media platforms enforce adult content rules, how appeals are handled, and whether LGBTQ+ content is being wrongly treated as inherently sexual.
