Gay

China-based gay dating app Blued announced that it has obtained an Internet Hospital license to offer men’s health services to its users.

BlueCity, which owns Blued, created its own online health information platform He Health in 2019 to elevate awareness of HIV and its prevention among the app’s users. The health portal will now be rebranded as He Health Internet Hospital, and in addition to providing information and consultations, the online hospital will sell HIV diagnostic kits and work with local authorities to offer testing centers around China. 

Under the new license, doctors and medical professionals will also be able to offer advice and expertise to patients directly through the dating app’s platform. Instead of turning to third party apps for this kind of service, Blued users can feel safer and more confident talking directly with doctors over the dating app about sensitive issues like erectile dysfunction, HIV testing and prevention, and access to prescription medications, according to news website Pan Daily.

Gay dating app Manhunt says that it was hacked in February of this year, and the personal data of a portion of its users was exposed. 

A hacker caused the data breach according to a statement submitted by the company to the Washington State Attorney General. Manhunt maintains that the hacker “downloaded the usernames, email addresses and passwords for a subset of our users in early February 2021,” according to The Advocate. 

Manhunt has over 6 million users, and about 7,700 of its users who reside in Washington had their data stolen according to the statement. In total, the company’s attorney says about 11 percent of Manhunt users were affected by the breach.

Dating app Grindr announced the premiere of its new comedy special called Gag Reflex, featuring a lineup of up-and-coming LGBTQ comedians, who share stories of dating and the queer experience.

The special originally aired as a livestream on April 1st on YouTube and the Grindr app, and is now available to watch anytime on YouTube. According to Variety, the featured comedians include Joel Kim Booster (NBC’s Sunnyside, Hulu’s Shrill), Sydnee Washington (Broad City), Jay Jurden (The Tonight Show), Jaye McBride and Zach Zimmerman.

Gay dating app Jack’d sent a notification to all of its users that read “All Waves Matter” as a marketing tactic to encourage them to engage on the app. The company came under fire because this was interpreted widely as insensitive to the Black Lives Matter movement.

On Jack’d, virtual “waves” can be sent between users to express interest in one another. According to Insider, when users of Jack’d got this notification, they were understandably upset at the reference to “All Lives Matter” – the phrase used by those who opposed the Black Lives Matter movement. 

Jack’d has long marketed itself as a more progressive dating app, noting on its website that it is the "most diverse community for gay, bi, trans, and queer people," and is used overwhelmingly by people of color, which make up about 80 percent of its user base. 

Online dating company eHarmony launched an ad campaign highlighting LGBTQ dating on its app, and has received backlash from some on the conservative right, according to a report by NBC News.

The company has roots in the Christian community and has been viewed as unwelcoming to the LGBTQ community. To move past this perception, executives invested in a rebranding campaign that highlights inclusivity. The company launched its first inclusive ad featuring a lesbian couple this winter.

The ad entitled “I Scream” is part of the “Real Love” campaign, and shows the couple in their kitchen making dinner, then deciding it’s not very good and opting for ice cream on the couch. “Being honest with each other,” the voiceover says. “Saying yes to great ideas. eHarmony — here for real love.”

My Transsexual Date, the leading online platform for transgender women and trans oriented men looking for love, is taking its web-based version to a mobile app.

The company announced that its new dating app is in development and will soon be available on both iOS and Android. It will also be connected to the dating website when it rolls out. Once the app is released, it will have the largest user base for trans daters, giving it an edge over other trans dating platforms. Currently, users can sign up online and browse via the website on their desktops or phones, but there hasn’t been a dedicated app.

The company takes security very seriously, with a moderation team that is staffed around the clock to ensure the safety of users and prevent harassment of members. Added to that, My Transsexual Date is working on a new profile verification system where members will have to take a photo or record a video to prove they are real, in order to curb the proliferation of fake profiles – a common issue among online dating platforms.