This video explains why having “preferences” on gay dating apps is racist
MTV Decoded explores the discrimination in the world of LGBT dating
By Joshua Haigh
Racism in the world of gay dating continues to be a massive issue.
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone non-white on gay apps who hasn’t heard things like “Sorry, I don’t like asian guys” or ” I’m only into white men”.
What’s shocking is that it’s become so normalised to the point where some gay men don’t understand that their so-called “preferences” are actually considered racist.
A new video by MTV Decoded attempts to explore this discrimination in the world of LGBT dating, and presenter Dylan Marron gives his best shot at explaining why it needs to stop.
“Society often characterises non-white features as unnatractive,” says Dylan in the video.
“When gay men are confronted about their racism, many try to explain it away as a preference. But this is where structural racism comes into play,” he continues.
“If our stereotypes about race are learned, and that impacts what we find attractive, these preferences are actually just a product of an environment that allows racism.”
“Some forms of discrimination have become so engrained in gay culture that we don’t even realise when we’re perpetuating them”.
Watch the video below: