The truth is that love comes in all shapes, sizes and configurations and personal ad platforms are only now starting to catch on to that fact. Mainstream dating sites and apps regularly catered to a predominantly gay, straight, trans, or cisgender crowd looking for monogamy. Now however, with society’s view on sexuality and partnerships opening up a bit in many places, some of the newer platforms are trying to offer more inclusion for LGBTQ+ and non-monogamous daters.
Creating Safe Spaces
Many LGBTQ+ people report feeling unsafe or unwelcome on conventional dating platforms, which tend to make assumptions about gender identity and sexual orientation. Newer apps are tackling this by allowing users to specify their exact preferences. OkCupid’s 22 gender and 13 orientation options are lightyears ahead of the usual binary choices.
Her and Grindr specifically cater to lesbian/queer women and gay/bi men and have strict policies against harassment or hate speech. Lex takes things even further—there are no photos or cisgender/hetero options at all to create a judgment-free space. These measures help ensure all users feel respected as they navigate the already-tricky dating world.
Embracing the full spectrum
The acronym LGBTQ+ represents a diverse array of sexualities, including pansexual, asexual, demisexual, and more. While most conventional platforms lump all non-straight folks under one “gay” umbrella, new apps recognize and celebrate these distinctions.
Many platforms, like https://doublelist.com/, welcome people all across the sexuality spectrum. Users can indicate if they’re questioning, hetero-flexible, homoflexible, or any other options. This specificity empowers them to connect with better-matched partners.
NuiT goes beyond sexual orientation to account for the nuances of gender identity. Users can pick from many gender tags, including non-binary, genderfluid, and Two-Spirit. Profile photos even avoid showing faces to resist snap judgments. This thoughtful approach creates a one-of-a-kind space for transgender and nonconforming daters.
Making Room for Non-Monogamy
Non-monogamous dating, whether in open relationships or polyamorous arrangements, is becoming less taboo but still widely misunderstood. Most mainstream dating platforms prohibit married people from joining and don’t support profiles for multiple partners.
A small handful of progressive new apps, however, cater specifically to ethical non-monogamists. Feeld allows partners to link profiles and even match with other couples. Polyfinda and Open are exclusively for the polyamorous community and give members the freedom to define their boundaries.
Instead of restricting how love “should” operate, these platforms encourage transparency and consent above all. This judgment-free philosophy gives non-traditional daters the power to build the partnerships that are healthiest for them.
The Future of Inclusive Dating
While niche apps for marginalized groups fill crucial intimacy needs today, the ideal future makes room for all relationship styles on all platforms. OkCupid’s expansion to 22 genders could become standard across all mainstream sites. Match.com adding legal partnership status beyond “single” or “divorced” would better represent millions of attached daters.
The options and algorithms on these platforms influence societal attitudes and vice versa. As progressive viewpoints continue permeating the mainstream, personal ad platforms will need to evolve to remain relevant. Inclusive design isn’t just an admirable moral stance—it’s a savvy business move.
The success of early pioneers like Her and Feeld demonstrates the demand for spaces that validate people once deemed “alternative.” All signs point to diverse relationship configurations continuing to gain acceptance across generations. It seems likely that over the next few years, inclusivity will go from a niche feature to a non-negotiable requirement for any dating platform hoping to thrive.
Navigating a Changing Landscape
For those seeking love and intimacy outside the status quo, change can’t come fast enough. But in the meantime, new apps provide exciting possibilities to safely explore non-traditional partnerships. Taking the plunge into ethical non-monogamy or signing up for a platform that sees and celebrates your complex identity can feel empowering yet daunting.
Rest assured that across all demographics, interest in consensual non-monogamy increased to 34%. And over half of Gen Z Americans identify as something other than exclusively straight. You are not alone in wanting alternatives to one-size-fits-all relationships.
Here’s some guidance on making the most of this new dating landscape:
- Get clear on what you want. Before you match with partners, do a soul search about your ideal relationship style (plural) and boundaries. Envision your best-case scenario.
- Vet platforms thoroughly. Before joining a platform, look up the reviews and company policies to find out if a platform’s values match diverse communities.
- Specify in your profile. For the sake of attracting like-minded matches, be upfront and unambiguous. Don’t hide or hedge what you are seeking.
- Move slowly. Before taking things from messaging to dates, discuss specifics of mutually acceptable arrangements. Don’t assume anything.
- Keep communicating. Keep in regular contact even after you have gotten comfortable with each other. Feelings and needs can shift. The key is responding ethically.
While embracing a non-mainstream identity can feel isolating, you have the power to manifest the loving connections you deserve. Get out there and own what makes you extraordinary! This new era of inclusive dating offers much to celebrate.
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