The real article also uses a different image (although the fake Washington Post screenshot does use a genuine picture of the dog in question). The subheading differed from the fake Washington Post one, saying: “Whitney Chewston has two gay dads, and now her image is skewering homophobes and transphobes online.” There was a genuine article, but not in the Washington PostĪ genuine article with the headline “This dog is the new face of online homophobia” did appear on a website called LGBTQ Nation on 16 May. Taylor Lorenz and staff at the Washington Post have confirmed that it was neither a story on their site nor written by Ms Lorenz. The story never appeared on the Washington Post’s site, despite looking very similar to genuine stories in its internet culture section. However, this screenshot has been fabricated. A post on Facebook shows what looks like a screenshot of a Washington Post article with the headline: “This dog is the new face of online homophobia” and the subheading “Internet trolls have turned a dachshund into a viral homophobic meme - and her gay owners don’t know what to do.” Under that is the byline of Washington Post technology and online culture columnist Taylor Lorenz.
