Tinder just became transgender-friendly with important new update
By Will Stroude
Popular dating app Tinder is debuting new features aimed at improving transgender people’s experiences on the app from today (November 15), Mashable reports. While previous iterations of the app limited users to choosing between male or female gender options, Tinder will now allow users to pick from a range of gender options, or opt out of selecting a gender all together. The company is also taking steps to stamp out transphobic harassment on the platform. CEO Sean Rad told Mashable: “We can help you match with people that acknowledge that you’re transgender and want to meet you versus people who end up harassing you as a result,” adding that there will be a “far more aggressive” policy for banning users who harass others. “At the end of the day, as a trans user, what you would experience is higher quality matches. The users who were harassing probably won’t be there because we would have banned them,” he added.
Nick Adams, director of GLAAD’s Transgender Media Program, welcomed the news, saying, “It sends a strong message of acceptance when a platform like Tinder clearly tells its users that transgender people are welcome. “Trans people who use Tinder are, like all other users, looking to form relationships and find the right match. Tinder’s update allows trans users to be themselves on the platform, and makes it clear that Tinder is committed to inclusion. “This update reflects a growing awareness that trans people are part of the fabric of everyday life, which in turn, accelerates acceptance for transgender and gender non-conforming people.” A number of trans and gender non-conforming people fed into the creation of the app’s new features. Watch them discuss their experiences using dating apps below: More stories: Single & Fabulous? | ‘Is casual sex with mutual respect becoming extinct?’ Cristiano Ronaldo strips off for Portuguese football team’s Mannequin Challenge – WATCH