diff --git a/django/contrib/comments/templatetags/comments.py b/django/contrib/comments/templatetags/comments.py
index 959cec4..11c81a7 100644
--- a/django/contrib/comments/templatetags/comments.py
+++ b/django/contrib/comments/templatetags/comments.py
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ class DoCommentForm:
                     kwargs[option] = True
                     kwargs['rating_options'] = args
                 elif option in ('is_public'):
-                    kwargs[option] = (args == 'true')
+                    kwargs[option] = (args == 'true' or args == 'yes')
                 else:
                     raise template.TemplateSyntaxError, "%r tag got invalid parameter '%s'" % (tokens[0], option)
         return CommentFormNode(content_type, obj_id_lookup_var, obj_id, self.free, **kwargs)