Facebook's 'Pride flag' meme fails to appeal to Pakistan

The social media trend of superimposing a rainbow flag over Facebook profile pictures that followed the US Supreme Court's decision to lift same sex marriage bans across the country has not gone down well in Pakistan.

When an IT professional from Lahore placed a rainbow flag over his profile picture, he received a tirade of abuse from close friends, colleagues and ex-colleagues for showing support for same-sex marriages. He said that they could not accept the fact someone who was married was backing something that was defied by Islam and its culture, reported The Guardian.

The online debate spurred by the ruling has seen supporters of marriage equality being accused of abandoning Islam, with many saying that bestiality will be legalised next. However social activist Marvi Sirmed said that she was pleasantly surprised to see so many people on social media supporting the cause in Pakistan— a feat that could not have been possible five years ago.

In 2011, Sirmed was the object of furious denunciations after she appeared on a television show and defended the US embassy in Islamabad for hosting a 'Pride Celebration' for Pakistani lesbian, gay and transgender (LGBT) activists.