Tinder's "Let's Talk Gender" offers a crash lesson in diversity with more than 50 gender identities
LetsTalkGender.in was
introduced by the well-known dating service Tinder as a guide and dictionary to
promote discussions about how people identify and express their gender.
Since 2016, the dating
app has given its users the ability to express themselves in ways other than
the binary.
LetsTalkGender.in was
developed with the help of a varied group of numerous contributors from the
LGBTQIA+ community, drawing inspiration from the over 50 gender identities and
nine sexual orientations that are available on the app. It clarifies the
meaning of the binary, the reasons why it is perceived as restricting, the
value and proper usage of pronouns, the implications of a partner's queerness
for a dater, and other often asked questions and curiosities.
The microsite provides a
window into the real-life experiences of Tinder users as they browse through
it. The portal was created in collaboration with Gaysi Family, a website for
gay Desis.
One of the Gaysi Family's
co-founders, Sakshi Juneja, stated that holding these discussions will be the
only way to keep up with how we currently view and feel about gender. Not just
inside the community, but also in broader social contexts, as it affects how we
navigate permission, how we can use resources, and how we can access
institutions like marriage. And it's crucial that companies like Tinder, who
have a sizable impact and presence in society, promote the development of such
spaces to foster inclusivity and foster an atmosphere where such manifestations
can be openly explored.
LetsTalkGender. is a
long-term commitment that strengthens support for the Indian LGBTQIA+ community
and promotes inclusive conversations in the dating ecosystem, according to
Aahana Dhar, director of communications for Tinder in India. Tinder has
disclosed that its LGBTQIA+ member base has increased at twice the rate of its
total membership, and that non-binary is the No. 1 "more genders"
choice in the app, with more than half of its users worldwide being between the
ages of 18 and 25.
LetsTalkGender.in, which
features voices from the LGBTQIA+ community, embodies the fluidity that exists
within the gender spectrum while maintaining the centrality of gender, sexuality,
and personal liberty. In India, the feature for the LGBTQI+ group has been
expanded to include gender orientations as well as indigenous identities in
collaboration with Humsafar Trust. Many words used in the queer community have
been clarified and simplified. Consider the following phrases as examples:
Kothis, demi-gender, transgender, agender, bigender, pangender, genderqueer,
genderfluid, gender-questioning, gender non-conforming, gender variant, and
more. To learn how to recognize a person in non-binary terms, each is discussed
and provides for an engaging read for heterosexuals as well.