eHarmony Offers More Inclusive Updates to its App
Contributed by: kellyseal on Wednesday, August 30 2023 @ 05:24 pm
Last modified on Wednesday, August 30 2023 @ 05:39 pm
eHarmony announced that it is adding an expanded list of genders for its members to choose from, aiming to give them a more inclusive experience. The company worked in partnership with GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Awareness ) to develop the new updates.
Users will now be able to choose from an expanded list of genders, and during the registration process, they will be asked what gender best describes them to best match them with potential dates. Members will also be given more opportunity to talk about and add more detail about their gender when they complete the “personal information” form in the process. Users can also choose to display their gender on their profile, according to GLAAD's website[*1] .
Members will be able to list their gender preferences when it comes to matches as well, including whether they are seeking men, women nonbinary, or any combination of these.
In addition, users will be given the opportunity to suggest more genders, and eHarmony will review on an ongoing basis.
eHarmony worked with GLAAD on the new features, whose staff were on hand to educate eHarmony employees on LGBTQ+ issues, to help them with more inclusive updates in the future.
As eHarmony states in its mission, it wants to provide a safe, inclusive and welcoming platform for all users.
Gen Z daters are pushing dating platforms to be more inclusive, insisting that they make users feel more welcome, particularly transgender singles. And it’s good business for companies to pay attention: GLAAD found that 7 in 10 non-LGBTQ people believe companies should publicly support the LGBTQ community. They also found that Americans are “more likely to buy or use brands that support LGBTQ equality,” according to GLAAD’s website.
“What we’ve appreciated about this partnership is eHarmony’s willingness to proceed intentionally and thoughtfully with a commitment to LGBTQ inclusion and competency across their company, including participating in all-staff and department-specific trainings,” said Alex Schmider, Director of Transgender Representation at GLAAD.
Gareth Mandel, Chief Operating Officer at eHarmony, said in a statement about the new updates:
“One of our core tenets is a commitment to learning, evolving and adapting to best help as many people as we can find meaningful relationships...We believe the changes we’ve made to our platform allow us to better achieve that mission while acknowledging that the work to build a diverse and inclusive environment is continuous. We are committed to this ongoing journey and know it requires constant work and reflection.”
For more on this dating service, check out our review of eHarmony.