OkCupid Adds Questions that Highlight Support for LGBTQ+ Community
Contributed by: kellyseal on Monday, June 20 2022 @ 09:21 am
Last modified on Monday, June 20 2022 @ 09:59 am
In time for Pride Month, dating app OkCupid announced it has added compatibility questions for users to find matches who support the LGBTQ+ community.
The new questions focus on a range of topics, including what Pride means to a potential match and whether they advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and whether it is “OK to silently support the transgender movement.” Other questions include how they would want to have children (via surrogate, adoption, fostering and other options), and whether it’s important that their dates care about LGBTQ+ rights, according to PRWeek[*1] .
In addition to the new questions, OkCupid will also show specific definitions for the 20 sexual orientation options and 22 gender identity options the app offers for users to add to their profiles, so that daters can be clear on exactly how they identify. In addition, users can choose up to five options so they are not boxed into only one.
Michael Kaye, OkCupid’s associate director of global communications, said that many transgender and non-binary users felt that OkCupid users were uncertain about the gender and sexual preference options offered, and that they needed more clarification.
“We understand the responsibility we have as a platform with millions of users,” Kaye told PRWeek. “By defining the 40-plus identities that people can choose from, we are taking a step towards educating and informing all of our users.”
The definitions were developed in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign, and OkCupid is encouraging its users to make a donation to the organization.
“As we head into Pride month, OkCupid is ensuring users can more accurately and authentically be represented on the platform. We know from our work the difference this makes to LGBTQ+ people,” said Shoshana Goldberg, Ph.D. MPH, Director of the HRC’s Public Education & Research Program, in OkCupid’s blog post[*2] .
OkCupid has long been a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, as are its users by an overwhelming majority. When surveyed, almost 97 percent of users said they care about the LGBTQ+ community, and seven in ten daters said it was important that their match cares, too. OkCupid also found that 97 percent of OkCupid users support marriage equality, according to the company’s blog.
“As someone who identifies as gay, I understand that what’s top of mind for me when I’m looking for a relationship is a little different than what my straight friends are looking for,” Kaye told PRWeek. “This Pride Month, we thought it was more important than ever for people to connect with others based on topics that are important to the LGBTQ+ community.”
For more on this dating service you can read our OkCupid review.