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Many of us have tried a dating app once or twice. Maybe we were looking for some excitement or perhaps it was just sheer curiosity.
Whatever the reason, if you have, then you're no stranger to the way people basically lay out their preferences in their bios about the type of woman or man their looking to meet.
It seems pretty fair and should pose no problem since everyone's entitled to a choice on who they'd like to date.
READ MORE: The guy I wish I swiped left on (and the one I'm glad I swiped right)
That is until people started posting remarks that scream discrimination like "no black guys" or "no fatties". Once people start making these remarks, it becomes quite clear how thin the line is between speaking about your personal preference about who you would like to date, and being racist or body shaming.
This has been a problem that the creators of Grindr have been faced with since the app was first launched. The kinds of comments posted by its users definitely create a hostile environment that leave many people feeling like victims of discrimination on account of their race, weight and looks.
These comments are particularly aimed at young, queer men of colour, who in turn feel like there's no way of escaping the harsh reality of racism that lingers everywhere.
READ MORE: 6 women on why they prefer the term ‘queer’
Which is why Grindr (a social networking app designed for gay, bi, trans and queer people) has created a second version of the popular app called Kindr which is aimed at eliminating all forms of discrimination on the app.
In a statement issued to Advocate, Grindr had this to say.
Many users of the app welcomed the initiative by Grindr warm-heartedly and took to Twitter to express their thoughts:
Fully in favour of #KindrGrindr - “preference” can never justify sexual racism.
— Christopher Clannachan (@chrishac2796) September 19, 2018
"Kindness is our preference."
— Sinakhone Keodara (@frogseatmoon) September 18, 2018
Girl down! Racism hurts. Kindness heals. I burst out crying reading @Grindr's words addressing sexual racism on its platform. One person can make a difference. Your voice matters. You can change the world and leave it a kinder place. #KindrGrindr https://t.co/jvczaNtfLB
In the same way many people went on to express their skepticism at Grindr's new initiative and didn't think it would make a difference to the "sexual racism" people are exposed to on the app.
Ehh...while I appreciate app owners trying to take up some social responsibility, at what point do these convos evolve past the idea that "preferences" happen in a vacuum?
— TO THOTTERY!!! (@angryblkhoemo) September 19, 2018
Like...this isn't a Grindr problem. It existed before The Apps™ and will persist long after.#KindrGrindrhttps://t.co/YJw5jErWk9
i mean #KindrGrindr isn't really going to work though is it because it's not the app it's the people using the app and i don't think that is really going to change for a while
— Sherv? (@ShervCheung) September 21, 2018
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