Dating apps have been changing to include transgender and nonbinary people more. They’ve made progress, but there’s still work to do to make sure everyone feels safe and welcome.
Dating apps have changed a lot recently to include transgender and nonbinary folks more. They’re trying to make things better for everyone.
The History of Online Dating for LGBTQ+ Folks
Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, gay men used dial-up modems to connect on bulletin board systems like Backroom and Gay.net. Lesbians used platforms like Sappho and lesbian.org. But these early sites didn’t have good options for showing gender.
As technology got better, services like Compuserve and AOL added chatrooms, where LGBTQ+ people could talk in real-time. But mainstream dating sites often didn’t let LGBTQ+ folks join. So platforms like OkCupid popped up, made specifically for queer people.
Grindr came along in 2009, made for gay and bisexual men. But it didn’t include transgender and nonbinary people at first.
Working for Inclusivity: Challenges and Progress
Dating apps have been trying to include more people over time. In 2016, Tinder let users pick their gender identity. Grindr and Hinge did the same in 2017.
In 2023, eHarmony added more gender options. Bumble also started including nonbinary users. But there are still problems, like not letting nonbinary people message certain folks.
Even with these changes, some apps still group users by gender, not sexuality. And transphobia and discrimination still happen on these platforms.
Learn more about the groundbreaking journey of the LGBTQIA Rights Movement, from its humble origins to the extraordinary milestones shaping our world today!
Leading the Way: Apps Making Things Better
Apps like HER are leading the way in making dating apps more inclusive. They’ve got rules against transphobia and want everyone in the LGBTQ+ community to feel safe.
Grindr, Scruff, and OkCupid have also made changes to include more gender options.
Other apps, like Taimi and Lex, focus on non-cis people and social connections instead of just matching. They give a better experience for people looking for inclusive communities.
What’s Next?
Even though things are getting better, there’s still work to do. We need more education about trans experiences and better ways to filter profiles. And we need to do more to stop transphobia and make everyone feel safe.
In the end, dating apps are getting more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community. By listening to transgender and nonbinary people and making changes, they can make everyone feel respected and safe.