I have a friend who was recently released from jail after being incarcerated for 2 years. He said he didn’t really mind missing the freedom but his only regret was not being able to watch the royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton. This wedding aficionado may have missed Bill and Kate’s nuptials in lieu of another episode of America’s Dumbest Dumbies but at least he’s a free man just in time for Facebook’s new same sex wedding icons…and at least Pippa’s still single.

When a couple makes it official and ties the knot, their Facebook profile Timeline icon is updated with a small marriage icon celebrating the union. In a move that’s being applauded by the gay and lesbian community, Facebook has added groom-groom and bride-bride icons for those same sex couples who announce their formal partnership. In the past, those same sex couples either had to use the standard bride-groom icon when they became married and it didn’t justly represent their union.



One of the first Facebook users to introduce the groom-groom same sex marriage icons was one of Facebook’s co-founders Chris Huges, who married his long time male partner in June of 2012. He cited that it was an important and groundbreaking feat for social media networks to recognize same sex relationships. Another gay-friendly advance Facebook has taken is in regards to changing relationship statuses. Besides the usual ’single’, ’in a relationship’, ’married’ or the ever popular ’it’s complicated’ , Facebook users now have the option to set their status to ’in a civil union.’

Facebook has proven to be a groundbreaking organization when it comes to recognizing the rights of gay and lesbian citizens. These advances are expected to only continue as same sex relationships become more accepted by the mainstream society. While GLAAD certainly approves, my recently released friend has a few beefs as he longs for the days when relationship statuses are expanded to include “she said she’ll wait for me on the outside” or the lifestyle choice of… “patiently waiting for Pippa”. Either way, it’s sure that he’s complicated.