LinkedIn: Restore the Largest LGBT Group and the Account of Dennis Velco

This is important because Visibility can lead to Awareness and that can lead to Equality. Over 18,000 depend on this group, many in countries where they may be put into prison or worse for simply who they are. They are very brave for joining us on LinkedIn and this group must be there for them, and every member.

LinkedIn has suspended the account to LGBT Activist and Artist Dennis Velco and suspended the largest LGBT Group on LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=63687) with over 18,000 members world wide which Velco founded, moderates, administers and curates LGBT News from around the globe. Velco has spent over four and a half years building this group spending up to 20 hours a week of his own personal volunteered time. It is 3 times the size of the next closest LGBT Group and is markedly the most professionally managed LGBT Group on LinkedIn. Not having this group accessible and active is a disservice to the entire LGBT Community and LinkedIn. It is open to community allies and recruiters seeking qualified candidates of diversity.

On the evening of January 24th LinkedIn with out notice suspended the Group leaving over 18,000 group members in the cold who rely on this active forum for news, global dialog and business networking. Velco contacted LinkedIn's Customer Support on the morning of January 25th within an hour of being aware of this suspension and to date have not been contacted by LinkedIn to resolve any perceived issues. The only action that Velco took prior to this action was leveraging LinkedIn's features to search for others who were both already a member of his group and a 2nd degree connection. After all, it's a business networking site and members of his group see his daily contribution as well as interact with him via email and phone.

Many group members contacted Velco directly in concern for his well being and out of concern for this vital and lively group. Numerous members of the LGBT Group have contacted LinkedIn Customer Support and have received timely responses, often within the same day, and are being told:

You are always welcome to create a new group with a similar name.”

I encourage you to explore other groups in the Groups Directory”

Dear Mr. Weiner,


Please reinstate LinkedIn's largest LGBT Group (gid=63687) and my account, Dennis Velco.


I have spent over 4 1/2 years building this group and it's reputation as the best LGBT Group on LinkedIn for its professionalism and active dialog.  It is a tremendous resource to over 18,000 professionals who happen to be LGBT.  I serve the LGBT globpal community completely voluntarily and have over those 4 1/2 years spent up to 20 hours a week.  This naturally is also serving the LinkedIn overall community as well.  I've also been very active in flagging inappropriate / derogatory language on LinkedIn profiles as a whole to rid it as best I can of terms such as "faggot" and "Niger".  In addition I am likely your mosts active member in flagging pornographic profile images as inappropriate to be reviewed by your Customer Support and I've sent several emails to them with over a hundred such offending profiles that got forwarded on to the Trust and Security department to address.  I not only give to the LGBT Community but I've proven that I give to the LinkedIn Community at large.  


I contacted LinkedIn Customer Support within hours of my account and the Group (along with it's 20 sub-groups) being suspended and inquired as to why.  Many of my group members have also contacted Customer Support and are being told to "start a new group" and "go find other groups to join".  They are receiving such recommendations within hours of contacting Customer Support, yet my own request was left unaddressed for a week until a member sent me his Customer Service response showing a 6 hour response and I forwarded that via the CustomerService@LinkedIn.com email address thanking them for that response to my group member and inquiring yet again about my profile and Group status.  I have been told my status is now in the hands of the Trust and Security Department.  I've not heard a word.  I am concerned that I and my LGBT Group are the victims of a Right Wing effort to crush LGBT Groups.  Within the past 2 weeks many groups across multiple internet properties are suddenly found suspended and a Right Wing Group called Christian Professionals Worldwide appear to be at the center of this activity.  I believe the persons who flagged my ernest request to connect are part of that movement. 


I also believe that Customer Support have stalled on my tickets due to me calling them out, in the LinkedIn Groups Product Forum group wherein over 300 LinkedIn staff observe and Ian manages - for their lack of taking acton on profiles I flagged for pornography and lack of taking action to proactively prevent pornography on LinkedIn by implementing facial recognition software. 
This all within a two week period.  Coincident maybe, but what is certain is that I need your assistance to break through whatever or whom ever is blocking my account reactivation again and Your Largest LGBT Group back up and active once more.


I appreciate your time and your assistance.


Make it a great day,


Dennis Velco
LinkedIn's Largest LGBT Group (Volunteer) - Founder - Moderator - World News Curator
&
Fine Art Finger Painting Artist
Online Gallery: http://www.DennisVelco.com/gallery
See studio painting videos at http://www.dennisvelco.com/artist-live-painting-videos
Email. Dennis@DennisVelco.com
Phone. +1 614.285.6040
Mobile +1 614.254.2629
Columbus, Ohio, United States

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