Editing BiNet USA (section)

=== Claims of copyright of bisexual pride flag ===
[[File:Bisexual Pride Flag.svg|thumb|Bisexual pride flag, which is in the public domain]]
On April 28, 2020, BiNet USA president Faith Cheltenham claimed via the organization's [[Twitter]] account that they own sole copyright to the [[bisexual pride flag]],<ref>{{cite tweet |author= BiNet USA |user=BiNetUSA|number=1255317614139670529|date=April 28, 2020|title=The copyright of the flag is solely BiNet USA’s; it does not belong to any one founder and no founder can approve its use without the President and/or board approval. And yet @Target where can we send a letter? Cause you sell #biprideflags too? Where is our cut?}}</ref> stating that they would be restricting the flag's use without direct authorization.<ref>{{cite tweet |first= Lauren |last= Beach |user=laurenbbeach|number=1255651973438767105|date=April 29, 2020|title=I want to clarify these are the views of #BiNet President @thefayth, who also was the person tweeting this content earlier today from the now-defunct BiNet twitter. I do not share the view that #BiNet owns or should seek to license the #bisexual pride flag.}}</ref> The tweets subsequently received many critical responses, including questioning the validity of a copyright claim, as previous documentation had established the flag as being within the [[public domain]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.out.com/bisexuality/2020/4/29/organization-wants-be-paid-use-bi-pride-flag|title=This Organization Wants to Be Paid for Use of the Bi Pride Flag|date=April 29, 2020 |website=www.out.com|language=en|access-date=April 29, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/04/group-threatening-legal-action-demanding-payment-use-bisexual-pride-flag/|title=A group is threatening legal action & demanding payment for use of the bisexual pride flag|last=Bollinger|first=Alex|date=April 29, 2020 |website=LGBTQ Nation|language=en-US|access-date= April 29, 2020 }}</ref> Their original Twitter account was deactivated on April 29, 2020, and a new account was made and pointed to by Cheltenham.<ref>{{cite web |last= Mason |first= Jessica |date= April 29, 2020 |url= https://www.themarysue.com/no-you-cant-copyright-the-bi-pride-flag/ |title= No, You Can't Copyright the Bi Pride Flag |work= The Mary Sue }}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |first= Faith |last= Cheltenham  |user= thefayth |number= 1255624412730028032 |date= April 29, 2020 |title= Talking to @binetcollective member about ensuring that folks know the true story of the pride flag for bisexuals; and the need to divest from support for pro profit work. To be clear this is an executive action I made as #BiNet President and remain in conversation with our board. }}</ref>

On April 29, 2020, Dr. Lauren Beach gave a statement on her Twitter in which she stated that, as a board member, she was not consulted about BiNet USA's decision and that she does not agree with it. A day later, she confirmed that the board had an emergency meeting on April 30, 2020, and that a statement is to be released soon.<ref>{{cite tweet |first= Lauren |last= Beach |user= laurenbbeach |date= April 30, 2020 |number= 1255944454940225536 |title= The board has convened an emergency meeting today and will issue a statement after the meeting ASAP. }}</ref> On May 1, Faith Cheltenham released a statement prepared by the BiNet USA's board onto the official blog page,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://binetusa.blogspot.com/2020/05/about-bisexual-pride-flag.html |date= May 1, 2020 |title= About the bisexual pride flag...: A statement prepared by the board of BiNet USA |work= BiNet USA |access-date= May 2, 2020 |archive-date= May 2, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200502175634/https://binetusa.blogspot.com/2020/05/about-bisexual-pride-flag.html |url-status= dead }}</ref> as well as tweeting it from the, now reactivated, official Twitter account.<ref>{{cite tweet |number= 1256390119252037632 |user= BiNetUSA |date= May 1, 2020 |author= BiNet USA |title= About the bisexual pride flag... A statement prepared by the board of BiNet USA. MYTH: The Bisexual Pride flag is open for use by everyone for any purpose, including the confederate flag. }}</ref> Also on May 1, Beach stated she had resigned from the board.<ref>{{cite tweet |first= Lauren |last= Beach |user= laurenbbeach |number= 1256390868812075008 |date= May 1, 2020 |title= Update: A statement about the bisexual pride flag was posted on the #BiNet USA blog by Faith Cheltenham (link below). I am unsure if any additional statement will be forthcoming. I have resigned from the BiNet board. }}</ref> Two days later, Cheltenham posted a statement that she had asked Juba Kalamka to be president of BiNet and that he would do so as of January 21, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |first= Faith |last= Cheltenham |title= Statement by thefayth About the Bisexual Community |url= http://www.thefayth.net/2020/05/statement-by-thefayth-about-bi-community.html |date= May 3, 2020 |quote= I, thefayth, Faith Cheltenham, have asked Juba Kalamka to step up into the presidency of BiNet USA; he’s agreed to begin serving on January 21, 2021. |access-date= May 4, 2020 |archive-date= May 4, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200504035319/http://www.thefayth.net/2020/05/statement-by-thefayth-about-bi-community.html |url-status= dead }}</ref> The same day, BiNet USA posted a statement that began "As of May 2020, BiNet USA CEASES AND DESISTS OF ALL USE OF THE BISEXUAL PRIDE FLAG".<ref>{{cite web |title= Statement on Use of Bisexual Pride Flag |first= Faith |last= Cheltenham |date= May 3, 2020 |work= BiNet USA |url= https://binetusa.blogspot.com/2020/05/statement-on-use-of-bisexual-pride-flag.html |quote= As of May 2020, BiNet USA CEASES AND DESISTS OF ALL USE OF THE BISEXUAL PRIDE FLAG |access-date= May 4, 2020 |archive-date= May 4, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200504035758/https://binetusa.blogspot.com/2020/05/statement-on-use-of-bisexual-pride-flag.html |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ebar.com/news/latest_news/291980|title = BiNet USA president to depart after claiming ownership over bi Pride flag}}</ref>

On May 25, 2020, BiNet USA's Twitter reversed its position, stating "We strongly reject and refute any assertion that BiNet USA claimed, or ever claimed the bisexual pride flag."<ref>{{cite tweet |author=BiNet USA |user= binetusa |number= 1265146325428875264| date= May 25, 2020 |title= We said what we said, again. BY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF BINET USA Last communication about this flag controversy: We strongly reject and refute any assertion that BiNet USA claimed, or ever claimed the bisexual pride flag. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/BiNetUSA/status/1265146325428875264 |title="We said what we said, again." |date=May 25, 2020 |website=Twitter |author=BiNet USA |access-date=December 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200526183329/https://twitter.com/BiNetUSA/status/1265146325428875264 |archive-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref>

In November 2020, Cheltenham announced that she would retain control of the organization and identified as a conservative. She stated that she "and all bi content" would no longer be on mainstream social media.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |website=BiNet USA |first=Faith |last=Cheltenham |date=November 12, 2020 |url=https://binetusa2020.blogspot.com/2020/11/binet-usa.html |title=Press Release |access-date=December 19, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |author=BiNet USA |user=binetusa |number=1327058252362780673 |date=November 12, 2020 |title=...Official statement from Faith Cheltenham, ex.}}</ref>