This article was underwritten in part by the Mickey Flacks Journalism Fund for Social Justice, a proud, innovative supporter of local news. To make a contribution go to sbcan.org/journalism_fund.
It started with a notification from Meta. One Tuesday in early July, Cooper Bedin (a k a drag queen Jaundice Joplin) checked their phone. Bedin co-runs an account to promote BARBARA, a monthly drag show they put on alongside queens Aria Cummingtonite (Jon Bingaman), Linda (Sam Rosen), and Cherry Von Illa (Jake Marshall).
“I opened Instagram and clicked through my accounts, and everything seemed normal,” Bedin said. “I was very confused. So I just kind of ignored it.”…