The unions of members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community have finally been recognized on a major social networking site. This is a major step toward relationship equality in the world’s modern societies. Since last Thursday, Facebook has offered two relationship options that benefit the LGBT community: “in a domestic partnership” and “in a civil union.”  Other options still include “single,” “in an open relationship,” “in a relationship,” “engaged,” “married,” “widowed,” “separated” and “divorced.” This is an absolutely wonderful step that Facebook has taken, to allow LGBT people to take pride in their sexual orientation and relationship status. However, the new options are not available in countries where same-sex marriage is illegal.After several high-profile gay teen suicides occurred last year, Facebook decided to take action and teamed up with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) in the hope of ending anti-gay bullying on social networking sites.  Soon after this union, the Network of Support (NOS) was formed and promised that good news for LGBT youth would come soon. It is really great to see humanity moving forward on such an important issue.Facebook’s addition of LGBT relationship options has received some backlash, however. The labels of “civil union” and “domestic partnership” are what the LGBT community has long tried to erase, stating they want marriage equality without such labels.  Legalizing the use of the term “marriage” for LGBT couples has been one of the key campaigning points for organizations in the NOS, including GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).           According to an article published last Friday on the social media site Mashable and entitled “Facebook adds LGBT-friendly relationship status options,” the new options have met with angry comments. Some users claim that by adding the “civil union” and “domestic partnership” options, Facebook has adopted the “separate and unequal” policies that have been enacted in American states where gay marriage is illegal.  In the same article from Mashable, GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios gave an e-mail statement, saying, “When millions of Facebook users see these relationship status options, they gain a greater understanding of the legal inequalities faced by loving and committed same-sex couples in so many states today.”Despite the criticism, it is good that Facebook has finally recognized legal relationships for LBGT couples.  I hope that one day such labels will be unnecessary and that marriage will be a privilege for all couples.  Facebook just took a step toward that goal.Perhaps Facebook’s change is the foundation required for marriages to be universally recognized, no matter the partners’ sexual orientation. Showing that there are relationship differences is a subtle hint that something needs to be done.I hope that other companies and organizations will follow Facebook’s lead, work toward a more equal society and end the battle against Internet bullying and discrimination. Will that actually happen? Probably not immediately, but I hope we will one day live in a society in which all relationships are equal and no one is negatively judged for his or her sexual preference.  No one should be bullied for merely loving someone.