Wikipedia bans House account after user mocks 'Orange is the New Black' actress

Paul Schiraldi/Paul Schiraldi Photography

After a series of controversial edits made by anonymous users on Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia generated by volunteers, had the last straw and suspended the account for the third time this summer - this time it's a month long.

Over thirty edits were made since Monday in reference to transgender people under the Congress' Internet Protocol, or IP, address. The most recent edit changed information on the Netflix hit series 'Orange Is The New Black' page by writing that actor Laverne Cox, who is a transgender woman in real life and on the show, by changing her description from 'a real transgender woman' to 'a man pretending to be a woman.'

It is unknown whether the anonymous user is one person or several, but, one user, who identified herself as a woman, said she doesn't see how 'disagreeing with the concept that transphobia is a negative thing is considered 'hate speech.'' She also wrote that 'the concept of 'transphobia' is being promoted to trivialize the experiences of real women.'

Several users complained on Wikipedia message boards and to the user.

Wikipedia

'It's just another silly ruse by the puerile male intern/staffer desperate to become the House's very own jester,' wrote one user, John Valeron. ' He is quite simply a criminal, illegally misusing US Govt property and Internet service. He should be fired and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.'

It seemed Valeron hit a nerve for the user who responded to his comment.

'There's nothing illegal about editing Wikipedia to promote official business that has been explicitly authourized (sic) by the Representative,' responded the anonymous user who also chastised Valeron for assuming that she is a man.

Wikipedia

The users have also edited pages for 'tranny' - a derogatory term for transgender people including changed the definition of transsexual from an individual with gender inconsistent or not culturally associated with his or her 'biological' sex to 'assigned' sex, but Wikipedia has been steadfast in un-doing the edits.

House staffers with a Wikipedia account - which usually identifies their name - can still make changes.