Bumble Study Finds LGBTQ Filipino Daters Seek More Authenticity in a Partner

A new study by Bumble among single LGBTQ+ Filipinos found that a whopping 85 percent said that it’s important to them to find partners who accept them for who they are without pressuring them to change.

According to Adobo Magazine, nearly half (48 percent) of respondents feel that they need to conform to certain physical or personality ideals to be accepted by the LGBTQ+ community. About 28 percent of those surveyed went on to say that they felt pressured to change or conceal their gender expression to fit in or be accepted by the LGBTQ+ community.

The survey was conducted in partnership with Pride PH, the widest national network of Philippine LGBTQ+ organizations. Over 400 people participated in the survey.

Only about one-third of Filipino LGBTQ+ singles surveyed said they prioritize physical attractiveness, according to Adobo, which goes against the idea that people should feel pressured to look a certain way. Among the most valuable trait respondents said they found in a partner were communication skills at 52 percent, respectful of boundaries at 50 percent, and empathy and kindness at 49 percent.

“The partnership between Pride PH and Bumble reflects our shared belief that Pride has always been about celebrating individuality, not conforming to narrow definitions. This core principle stretches back to the very foundation of what we’re fighting for – to champion the right to be yourself, whoever that may be,” said Angel Romero, Convenor of Pride PH, in a statement.

Safety concerns were a top priority for respondents as well. A whopping 70 percent of respondents said that catfishing was their top concern when using dating apps, followed by 66 percent who said that dating scams were a top issue for them, and 54 percent stated that unwanted messages and behavior were a major safety concern for them.

Over fifty-six percent of respondents said that they look for dating apps to have safety features that protect them when looking for matches. Forty-five percent said they were most concerned about the “quality of potential matches” and the “personalization of profiles.”

In celebration of Pride this year, Bumble also partnered with Macao Imperial Tea, a popular tea franchise, and gave away thousands of bubble teas to LGBTQ+ attendees and allies who flashed their Bumble profiles at Pride events.

“Bumble was founded with the core values of equality, respect, kindness and accountability at the core of what we do, and our goal is to create a safe environment where people can develop healthy connections online, whether they be romantic, such as on Bumble Date, or platonic, on Bumble For Friends,” said Lucille McCart, Bumble APAC Communications Director.

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