Grindr launches Kindr initiative to tackle racism and discrimination
The logo for gay hook-up app Grindr (Leon Neal/Getty)
Dating app Grindr has launched a new initiative to address racism, bullying and body-shaming amongst users.
It has updated its community guidelines to ban discriminatory language in profile bios and those who breach the new rules will be reviewed by moderators.
The company has also launched a Kindr Grindr website along with a video series where users talk about discriminatory comments they have received.
The first video begins by stating the racist language some users have experienced, including “go back to Mexico” and “people like you are the reason Ebola exists.”
One man says he began to wonder if there was something wrong with him.
“It opened my eyes to a hierarchy that I wasn’t participating in before,” he says in the video.
“If you don’t put ‘No Asians’ in your profile, that doesn’t mean you have to f**k Asians now. It just means I don’t have to see it,” he says.
“It is not racist to not be attracted to me personally. But for you to say, ‘I know what every Asian guy looks like and I know for a fact that I would not be attracted to any of them.’ Like that comes from a racist place because you don’t know what we all look like. That’s ugly.”
The new Kindr Grindr website reads: “At Grindr, we’re into diversity, inclusion, and users who treat each other with respect. We’re not into racism, bullying, or other forms of toxic behaviour.
“These are our preferences, and we’ve updated our Community Guidelines to better reflect them. Same app. New rules.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Their type. Their tastes. But nobody is entitled to tear someone else down because of their race, size, gender, HIV status, age, or – quite simply – being who they are.
“Join us in building a kinder Grindr. Express yourself, but not at the expense of someone else. Report discrimination when you see it. Use your voice and share your story to call out prejudice and spark change.
“Together, we can amplify the conversation and take steps towards a kinder, more respectful community.”
Grindr has updated its guidelines (Getty)
Landen Zumwalt, head of communications at Grindr, in a statement: “Sexual racism, transphobia, fat and femme shaming and further forms of othering such as stigmatisation of HIV positive individuals are pervasive problems in the LGBTQ community.
“These community issues get brought onto our platform, and as a leader in the gay dating space, Grindr has a responsibility to not only protect our users, but also to set the standard for the broader community that we serve.
“Online discrimination has reached epidemic proportions affecting not only Grindr but other social networks. Our ‘Kindr’ initiative is a rallying call for Grindr and our community to take a stand against sexual racism and all forms of othering.
“Together, we will work to maintain a welcoming and inclusive environment and end the need for people to include exclusionary statements on profiles.”
