At the start of pride season, Grindr announced it was finally ditching its “ethnicity filter” after dragging its feet for over a decade.
But as it turns out, though well intentioned, removing the filter has actually created a new set of problems. Specifically, for the very people it aimed to help.
In a statement posted to social media last month, Grindr announced it was getting rid of the filter to show support for Black Lives Matter and in honor of pride.
“How can we launch a month of celebration when so many of us are hurting?” the company said. “It is our responsibility to speak out against the hate and violence that such a vital part of our community continue to face.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Related: Grindr marks the start of Pride month by ditching its ethnicity filter
But in an new op-ed published by the UK’s GQ, gay Black writer Otamere Guobadia explains how some BIPOC users actually used the filter to escape the overwhelming sea of white profiles that they are constantly confronted with whenever they log on, and how not having it has created a less friendly, less safe experience for them.
“For many Black gay men and gay men of color, the ethnicity filters allow them to find other men and befriend and build a community with them free from othering, fetishization, and white gaze,” he writes.
Guobadia argues that many BIPOC users have felt so abused by white gays that they are not particularly interested in engaging with them on the app and are instead looking to meet guys who share their experiences.
“Many gay men of color are only invested in romantic relationships with other gay men of color for this very reason,” Guobadia writes. “The ethnicity filters allowed them to curate an experience centered on them for a change.”
(Quick side note: Before you go crying “reverse racism,” please take a moment to educate yourself on what that term really means.)
Related: White gay bear privilege is a thing and it needs to end
Furthermore, Guobadia adds that doing away with the ethnicity filter don’t address the underlying issues that have plagued the app since its inception in 2009.
“Many [BIPOC] use it to necessarily create a dating experience insulated from the default whiteness and white supremacy that often pervade both the app and the gay dating world writ large,” he writes.
“Without seeking to understand these issues, and the way white men fetishize and marginalize Black men on their app, this is a small plaster on the racism that we face within the community.”
He continues:
The fact remains that our grievances run far deeper, the repercussions of which spread far further and devastatingly than dating apps. Queer communities have always had a fraught relationship with Black sexuality. Black queer men have found both their experiences and existence systematically erased. Contemporary conversations in the LGBTQ community position Black masculinity as both an outsider and archetypal villain.
Guobadia concludes by saying that gay BIPOC should be allowed to “furnish and curate spaces and experiences distinct and away from the strictures and impunity of the white gay-ze.”
Related: Grindr may soon have a coronavirus filter
Grindr has long been criticized for not doing enough to combat racism on its platform.
After peddling the “it’s just a preference!” argument for nearly a decade, in 2018 it launched its #KindrGrindr campaign to encourage users to stop making statements such as “no blacks and no Asians” on their profiles.
However, many users remained unhappy that it continued to offer an ethnicity filter, allowing users to filter out ethnic groups of their choice.
Mister P
Maybe it is best to stay off it altogether. It works for me.
Neoprene
“…free from othering, fetishization and white gaze.” There’s just no limit to all the snowflake, victimhood fun!
startenout
There also seems to be a bottomless void for your privileged racism and bigotry while ignoring the life experiences of others, so that’s a mitzvah.
TMBisAOK
It must suck being a compassionless bigot.
TheAbsoluteTRUTH
My reply is along the lines then too also tell black guys on Grindr who are constantly naming themselves bbc or something along those lines to quit as well fetishizing themselves. ( oh also tell them to quit asking for money to play with it as well) since SO many on there are hookers as well. Thanks
Neoprene
TMBisAOK, startenout – It’s always cute when intolerant snowflakes throw the bigotry label around.
TheX86
It’s cute that you throw out the cutesy little term, “snowflake” whenever you’re called out for being a bigot. What’s cuter is you wouldn’t talk this shit In person. So go ahead & puff your chest out here. It’s the ONLY place you have the balls to do it ?????
jms42
And apparently no end to racism among gays.
Fra
ironically the black man who complained about white gaze is racist himself because he’s tarring all white man as white gazers!! unbelievable
RFD
I think we should leave something like that as a tool to help but I can see both sides to it.
jayceecook
Careful what you wish for.
¯\_( •• )_/¯
DK
Otamere Guobadia is *one* black guy. He does not speak for all of us. The experience of both myself and my friends is that this change has been refreshing. Our experience is that this move has encouraged interracial conversations. Both my black friends and my white friends have reported to me in conversations that they are now having more frequent and more positive interracial conversations on Grindr and Scruff over the past month, so much so that we are actually shocked how big a barrier the race/ethnicity filters were. Queerty should know by now NOT to report the opinions of one person as representative of the entire black community.
startenout
You might not have noticed that they cited it was an op-ed piece from UK GQ, but that means that it is one man’s opinion and they’re sharing it. Not recommending it, just sharing it. Just like you’re sharing your opinion here in this comment. Should they not allow comments either?
Fra
I’m actually shocked how big a bridge the race/ethnicity filters were, can you explain me why I can’t have interracial conversation anymore? I was trying to connect with the middle eastern ethnic group and suddenly the filter has been removed. It disappeared from my screen because there’s none around. Because of those ignorant bigots who force grinder to remove the filter I’ve been thrown in the street, literally, hanging out in areas that are not safe, especially in the evening and definitely not gay friendly, and I still don’t know how to spot if there’s any gay man in the middle eastern coffee shops. My safety has been sacrificed on the altar of the ideology of a bunch of left wing fanatics and you’re even praising them, how selfish of you.
rray63
So what black gays are saying is two fold. One they want to be segregated from all other gays. Two, either they are serious racists or are assuming that not just white gay men, but every gay man of whatever race are racists. If you don’t see the BS in this story you don’t want to. So my fellow gays of every color except black, how does it feel to be classified in the same .05% of the country that are actually racists and reprehensible in general?
Kangol2
No, that’s not what Black gay men are saying, but you just completely misread one person’s comments as universal. Two can play that game, though I won’t. But really, reading comprehension is fundamental, racism is repellent, and you need to think a bit more before you post garbage like you did.
DCFarmboy
“For many Black gay men and gay men of color, the ethnicity filters allow them to find other men and befriend and build a community with them ”
Grindr is not helping anyone “build community” or “befriend”. Its a hook up site, cupcake.
MenziesJ
Best comment here.
Randumb2020
This one guy has a right to his opinion. But he doesn’t speak for everyone I’m sure. I’m an older white guy. I reach out to talk with men of color because they are what I’m attracted to. I don’t fetishize them and treat them like they are play toys. I respect all human beings but there are many people who don’t. We all need to get out of our comfort zone and get to know other people who are different from us and stay active and stay involved in making a difference and being a part of change.
RobF
It’s named GRINDR …. not “Man of My Dreams” …. “Soulmate Finder” …… “Are You The One?” If someone has a sexual preference that excludes an ethnic group, it’s not racism! It’s what turns one on sexually, and they hope to meet a like minded companion … FOR SEX! Stop the PC policing!
startenout
Good job justifying prejudice and bigotry! Yay!
Oh… wait a moment… no I just checked in and actually having a “preference” that excludes an ethnicity is IN FACT just what racism is.
Not all white men are attractive; not all POC are attractive.
Excluding someone simply based on the fact of skin color (of which every race comes in SO many shades) is definitely racist.
Hope that clears it up for ya, Bubba.
jayceecook
@startenout
“Excluding someone simply based on the fact of skin color (of which every race comes in SO many shades) is definitely racist.”
Expect that’s exactly what Guobadia and black men (by his own words) like him want to do. And are now complaining that they can’t do it anymore. So if your goal was to suggest Guobadia and those who follow his train of thought are racist, well congrats. You just did.
renzinthewoods
Apparently the issue is “shopping” for a particular flavor is fetishizing the members of that flavor…at least if one is white…and that’s bad supposedly. However, hooking up is ALL about objectivization of the other. Men are essentially looking for a human sex toy for an erotic experience and so dick size, cut or uncut, tall or short, built or chubby, bear or otter or smooth, and, yes, black or Latino or white or Asian…young or old…it’s just sex and it’s a matter of taste. Political Correctness and casual sex…that’s a challenge trying to combine those two.
pscheck2
This subject reminds me of an incident in my social life when I lived in K>C> This was in the 70tees, and Disco reigned supreme! I just finished dancing with my friend and while he went to the john, I retired to the bar to finish my drink. No sooner than taking my first sip, this Black dude comes up to me and offered to buy me a drink. I said Thanks, but I have a full drink I’m working on. Then the music started up again, and then he said : Come on, lets dance. I told him I wasn’t interested, as I was pooped out and wanted to just watch and cool down. He got pi**ed, and said “I know why you don’t want to dance with me it’s because I’m Black (before Afros/American label). I told him he was totally wrong as I have danced with other Black dudes, so my refusal had nothing to do with race! He glared at me and said: F**k you! and took off with his entourage (4).
RobF
@pscheck2 – You weren’t interested in dancing (or the drink offer) from a black man and it was turned into a racist reason. Key words: not interested. Same with sex – interested or not interested. Why not narrow down the search?
Fra
“startenout
Good job justifying prejudice and bigotry! Yay!
Oh… wait a moment… no I just checked in and actually having a “preference” that excludes an ethnicity is IN FACT just what racism is.”
Nonsense!! Sexual preferences are not discrimination because you’re not supposed to search or/sleep with someone you’re not trying to connect to! let’s say I’m trying to connect with middle eastern men, which is not racist or “fetishising” why shouldn’t be allowed to do it? why my grid should be filled only with anyone else? you are seriously bigoted and prejudiced
LifeCoachInfluencer
There are so many different factors that make up attraction and many sites use those to filter profiles to show guys closest to your preferences. We are ok with using filters to exclude people based on thin/heavy/muscular, hairy/smooth, younger/older, etc. but it’s becoming taboo to say you’re into black/white/asian/etc.? If you’re motives are purely racist, that’s a problem but conversely if you’re of that particular ethnicity, why would you want to date a racist anyway? As stated in the article, some people are more comfortable being intimate with people they have things in common with. Are we supposed to ignore our most basic attractions and be open to dating/hooking up with people regarding of physical attributes? Skinny and overweight should both get equal time, even if one is a turn off? I had laugh when an older friend was upset that young guys were not that interested in him. When I asked if he would consider a guy around his age, he scoffed at the idea saying older guys aren’t attractive! lol Anyway, we’re not talking about having a dinner party or hiring a new employee. These are intimate moments. Sexual attraction is based on many factors and a lot of them are physical, especially on hook-up sites like Grindr.
radcolor
Sound like common sense, to me.
jayceecook
Except everything you just said, while it makes sense, would actually be labeled as racist, sizeist, albleist, ageist, transphobic, etc. I’ve actually seen and heard people say that if you aren’t attracted to or wouldn’t date [insert type here] then you are being discriminatory and racist. Welcome to 2020 where your preferences are acts of discrimination.
radcolor
Look, it’s a hook up sight and yes, whether anyone wants to admit it or not, or define it as a bad thing, people have preferences! So what? Don’t demonize fetish either! This is too much. Just because I got to restaurant and they have 46 chicken dishes and 3 beef, means anyone can change my preferences for beef. You will not force anyone to order chicken that does not want to eat it. That’s a fact. Get over calling all white men privileged too. It’s not true. It simply isn’t.
startenout
Yea this just means you have no idea what privilege is.
A quick breakdown:
For white people, privilege means money and things;
For POC, privilege means being able to walk out of your house and not have to worry about making it home because someone doesn’t like how you look, or not being followed in a store because you “look like you’d steal,” or not being turned down for a loan even when you have better credit than the white guy next in line.
Learning about racism instead of living with it…. THAT is your privilege that you got from birth.
missvamp
agreed- having preferences isn’t racism.
RobF
@startenout – please stop sipping the KoolAid and educate yourself. Yes, there has been systemic racism in our country. Yet, the opportunities are there and people have found them and prospered.
The POC privilege you cite is your reality. If you don’t like it, change it. Take responsibility and stop playing victim.
Beachman
Guobadia is a hypocrite, who uses his skin color to try to hide his own racism. He needs to pull his head out of his @!! and take a closer look at the words he writes.
startenout
At least you’re open with yours, sweetie.
GlobeTrotter
Well, I guess everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. As for me, I just came back from the garage where I fetishized THE HELL out of my Polish mechanic! When he leaned over the engine compartment, one leg on the ground and the other spread over the hood, grunting with short stopping, breaths while trying to connect some stubborn plug located behind the engine, my black gaze was all up and over that ass!
Then I come home and have to read this s*it!
So now I’m a bad black boy for all the white boys I’ve “fetishized” and then boinked all these years? This guy needs to get a life and stop getting so offended by the inoffensive.
ThinkPlease
You. Need. To. Be. Punished. By a Polish mechanic wearing nothing but a toolbelt. Obviously. Now go. Get what you need.
GlobeTrotter
Trust me, I will be getting my hands on his tight ass. He’s cute, friendly and doesn’t have a single thought in that pretty head of his. I shall have him.
What does it matter what skin color a person has? Their religion? Their nationality, etc? The only way to foster more understanding is to leave our comfort zone and start mixing with each other. If we were having more dialog, more hook-ups, more sex, there’d be a lot less war and conflict in this world.
Marvymiller
Racism is the belief that you are better than someone based on your Race. It’s not related to sex or sexuality. Yes , people are fetishized and yes people are racist, but not all fetishists are racist. If you hook up with someone who turns physically turns you on, that’s sexuality. If you think you are better, than that’s more Racist.
jayceecook
Unfortunately that is no longer the definition of racism. Somewhere in the past 20 years it was co-opted and redefined to fit Millennial and Gen Z sociopolitical rhetoric.
nunya
That’s a very old definition of racism. The definition changed when it was pointed out that blacks are capable of the same way of thinking. Oh no can’t have that! Let’s change the definition! I suspect the definition of racism will constantly change over time because there are those who enjoy wallowing in victimhood and those who make a tidy profit from it.
tjack47
I don’t use apps. I like the old fashioned way. Face to face. Casual. Cruisy.
barkomatic
I think the real problem here is expecting a hookup app to eliminate racism. Some POC are happy the filter is gone while others apparently aren’t. Either way, Grindr can’t make a particular guy not racist. All it can do is try not to facilitate racism which I feel it has done.
Phil
people have preferences; some prefer blonds, others hairy men, others blacks, latinos etc. Removing the filter is stupid . I am white and seldom attracted to black guys ( a friend, who is able eyed blond is totally turned on by blacks…) and when surfing I’m only interested in other white men as they are mostly the types who turn me on; I’ve had sex with Middle Easterners and South Asians but never with a Black or East Asian simply due to preference. This woke virtue signalling is ultimately stupid as it does not want to accept reality.
cubcmh
Bigots are gonna exclude people either way. Why force them to see profiles they’re gonna pass over anyway?
Grindr’s response *should* have been to make the filter a FREE feature (it’s currently a PREMIUM feature only) so that everyone could find the guys they prefer.
GreatGuns
lots of people drive cars, some BMW, some Rolls Royce, some people like riding a motor bike, or a push bike, preference is a preference
Kangol2
If you do not grasp the difference between a human being and a car, you need help.
Can you get a blood transfusion from a car? Can you receive a heart from a car? Do you come out of a car’s womb into this world?
Do you still not get the difference between the two and how “preference” differs between them?
Fra
Kangol2 if you do not grasp the difference between a human being and a robot, you need help.
Can a human be programmed to be sexually attracted by whoever you want based on your sexual preferences and opinions? Can a human receive a soul transplant? Are you programmed like a microchip in this world?
Do you still not get the difference between the two and how “preference” differs between them?
Gary Q VV
Omamere… Simple solution to your well founded problem: Reach out to BIPOCs to start a new focused app which will allow BIPOCs a more comfortable and compatible ambiance for your needs.
just me
why put any filters? why put in “body type” or age or even sex/gender, just make it a big ol’ street party.
ShowMeGuy
That’s called FetLife. You get to sift through all profiles of all users in your area. I never would have guessed that my town of 100,000 people would ever have 15 lesbian “furries” active on a “meating” site.
GreatGuns
i prefer older, pierced, hairy and inked men, my preference
Aromaeus
The positives definitely outweigh the negatives and at the end of the day you can just block all the white profiles if it really bothers you that much.
Brian
Brilliant! How many white profiles could there really be? Block em all, then 5 years later when you finally finish, you’ll be ready for action.
ThinkPlease
So the PoC want to be racist? OK, let them, I have no problem with it. Just don’t pretend it’s not racism, don’t white-wa…er, brown-wash it, and don’t play games with me and tell me it’s anything other than what it is. It’s racism. It’s not reverse racism. It’s not “avoiding your white gaze.”
It’s racism. Now stop making excuses. Racism. Cut the crap. Racism.
And I’m fine with that. We all like to hang around with people who have similar backgrounds and experiences. I get that. So now we can all get our knickers unknotted when it happens with white folk, too, right, and there’s a natural tendency to be attracted to what we’re familiar with.
So stop the whining. But I already know you won’t because it’s somehow different if I were to do it because. I reflect more sunlight than some other people do.
renzinthewoods
Sigh. So white guys can’t filter…cause BAD. Black guys CAN filter…GOOD. At the risk of inviting woke scorn, I’m a progressive minded, cis gay man. However, this double standard is maddening. Men only club…that’s discrimination. Women only club…that’s safe space (from evil men). Whites only? Ooooo. That’s racist. Black only? That’s building community…and safe space (from bad white people). It can’t cut only one way. If women or POC or lesbians or trans folk have the right to exclusive space then whites or men are also entitled to exclusive space. You may find white only space or men only space obnoxious or abhorrent but that’s equality.
Kangol2
Personally I thought removing the filters was a bad move because racists are going to be racist, but let me explain to you what you’re saying and how “racism” isn’t the right term. Let’s take White women: from the beginning of this country’s origins, women have had far fewer rights than men. You realize that, right? White Women could not vote until 1920. For centuries White women were barred from attending most all-male private colleges (which date back to 1636 in the US) and were admitted in small numbers, if at all, to most public ones. White women were rarely allowed–though some fought–to lead companies (unless they inherited them), to hold a range of jobs, receive equal pay for their work (they still do not), and on and on. They were not treated equally under the law, whether it involved marriage, divorce, violence against them, etc. So–when White women, or any women, establish organizations to promote the interests of women, they are not being sexist, they are responding to sexism and misogyny. It is sexist and misogynistic to label them sexist for doing so, but that has long been a tactic of sexist men and their enablers.
Now, the same is true of race. I assume you have a basic understanding of US history, but if not, the short version is, everything I said about White women, who, by the way, are the main beneficiaries of affirmative action policies (Google it if you don’t believe me), was far, far worse for Black people of whatever gender. (And worse for Black women than Black men.) Add in enslavement from what’s now Maine to what’s now Texas, racial segregation enforced by brutal state force, state violence (including massacres), redlining, outright discrimination, and on and on, constituted hundreds of years of racism and White supremacy, and we’re just talking about the US. 13 states seceded from the US in order to be able to continue enslavement and White supremacy, and it took 4 years of horrific battles and 600,000 dead, including Black Union soldiers, to end that war. Black soldiers fought to defend the US in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, the Vietnam War, etc. and yet came home to a country that did not treat them equally. Racism continues through today, here, in the UK, and elsewhere. So Black people seeking to avoid racism is not racist, and it would take a racist to skew the view to see it as that. White gay men like you do have exclusive White spaces, and if that’s what you want, go for it, because that’s been the history of America, in a nutshell. If others say no thanks, maybe ask yourself why.
renzinthewoods
Kangol2. Learn to read and you can save time pontificating. Equality means all groups get to have exclusive space or no groups get to have exclusive space. Period. I didn’t need your damn lecture. The continued injustice of allowing some groups the right to be exclusive or exclusionary while denying that right to other groups is wrong and ultimately defeating. If a white student can be denied membership in a “black fraternity” based on race, then a “white fraternity” should be allowed to do the same. That would be equality. Better to stop ALL exclusions based on race.
squirrel_chicago
Ethnicity filter is still there by the way, and I’m all for it. It’s not racist if you are into a particular ethnicity now, is it?
MarkyMarkNipple
It’s a platform that allows other filters of preference. I know it sucks to have racial preference filters, but this site is about sex + desire. If people are open to everyone they won’t use that filter and I’d rather be filtered out than to reach out to someone and have them be a bitch at me. This site isn’t about opening your view point, it’s about opening holes.
charmin88
I don’t comment often, but the problem is not the app it’s the people who don’t want to grow or change their ways. You grow this “so called” preference by your surroundings. If all you see and hang around is one race you will only more than likely be attracted to that race. Why not endorse change and give the younger generation a chance to not be so closed minded like 90 percent of the commentors on here. Don’t duck unless the shoe fits!
Fra
Do you realise that you’re comparing sexual preferences to a pair of shoes and grow bigger lol?
Do you realise that you’re not going chose what pair of shoes someone will buy?
Do you realise that you can not and should not control, misled, influence, disturb anyone’s sexual preferences and the process to find a partner?
Who are you, God?
Black Pegasus
Who were the group of gays who advocated for abolishing the filter in the first place? I’ll tell you who! It was a very small but vocal group of Black Snow Queens who only chase after white guys. It sure as hell wasn’t the average gay black male with a healthy self esteem. It was the gwarls who only plays in the snow. LOL
ThinkPlease
Well, at least they weren’t afraid to admit they wanted to be race-specific and more power to them. Me, I’m also generally attracted to Latinos and white guys, and very hairy ones at that. Black guys do nothing much for me most of the time.
Of course, I don’t use Grindr, so there’s that. But I’m all for keeping a filter so we can weed out what we don’t want to sleep with and can be as racist as we want. Those black guys wanted to be, after all, and I’m sure some white guys wanted to be racist and only select black guys.
ScottOnEarth
Wow. That’s a lot of pontificating about a low-rent, sleazy hookup app.
ThinkPlease
Well, there’s that, too. Now ask me about the channels I’ve blocked on YouTube simply for lack of interest.
charmin88
I believe it wasn’t a group of black people who wanted this. I just think their is a younger generation who is trying to create an accepting environment for all in the gay community. Regardless if its on a so called sleazy hookup app. FYI everybody on Grindr is not there all the time looking for just sex. I had one guy contact me because he had no one to talk to about his sexuality and was struggling with coming out. He seemed depress and didn’t feel he fits in with the gay community. We still talk from time to time. I like to see how he is progressing coming out is a process. I know we have ALOT of things to change in our community. We have a lot of toxic gays who think that fire island white gays should be the only race that should benefit from progress. I’m not attacking any one particular race because I see black guys on grindr who do put “BBC here” so there are problems on both sides. I don’t chase any one race I talk with any who want to connect with me. Do I have things I would like an a man attractive sexually? Yes, but that can be found in every race of man. There are some black guys as light as any white man. There’s latin men who look asian, Asian men with European ft. Like the guy off Wu assassins. I seen a white guy who I thought was biracial in a movie, but he was just white with features found prodminently in Black/brown communities. With all the mixtures out there having a filter is silly because all race of men come in different shapes form and features. To disregard an entire race of men is foolish. Although I’m not against either Apps or bars I do think we deserve more than just those things for our community. But that’s a topic for another day.
ShowMeGuy
Do I understand this correctly? If I think that Marlon Wayans is sexy AF, then I am fetishizing his race AND at the same time, if I think Damon Wayans is a goofy looking dude, then I’m racist.
When I’m in the mood for Asian, Black, or Latino…….why would I want to be sorting through dozens or hundreds of profiles MOST OF WHICH ARE WHITE GUYS in hopes that any profiles of Asian, Black, or Latino guys will be in the mix somewhere?
It is one thing to spell out *No fems, fatties, Blacks, Indians, or over 35s* in your profile. People who do that think they are saving time. They are saving time…..MY TIME…..since I’m not wasting my time with them.
When I’m feeling like a “rice queen”, show me those three Asian guys’ profiles in my city without hiding them among 600 profiles of White guys. Who has time to wade through 600 profiles?
Brian
So it turns out that all people used the filter, it wasn’t just white people excluding black people? Shocking. That wasn’t predictable at all.
I give it 2 weeks until the next shocking expose about how men of color are receiving a lot more racist messages from the people who previously were able to filter them out of their search results. Because nobody could possibly see that coming.
LumpyPillows
Ah, the PC crowd at its worst. No a sexual preference isn’t racist. Only really dumb people confuse peoples attractions with racism. I’m not attracted to women – does not make me a misogynist, it makes me gay. If I am or am not typically attracted to black men it does not maker me a racist or them a fetish. It is just who I am, and FU if you think you can pass judgment on it.
MenziesJ
There are hundreds of other options to help “build communities”. Nobody needs Grindr for that. I’m not white but I really think and have from the beginning that there are much better ways to promote inclusivity and diversity than demanding them from a hookup app.
philbear
The ethnicity feature is only available for PAID members.
So unless you are a paid member you have no reason to bitch, whine, or complain.
The next thing to consider is the feature something that YOU are using yourself? If the answer is NO then it is really none of your business.
Does use of this feature physically harm you? Of course not.
Does someone else using this feature physically harm you? Of course not.
If someone wants to limit who they see on Grindr that is THEIR business and NONE OF YOURS!
If a black guy wants to only look at black guys then fine.
If a guy from the middle east only wants to search for guys than the middle east – then fine.
If a white guy only wants to check out profiles of other white guys then fine!
If a black guy is only interested in white guys then fine!
If a white guy is only interested in black guys then fine!
Since no one is strapping you into a chair, wiring your eyes wide open, and FORCING you to select certain ethnicities then it is not your business.
If you are a paid member and do not like that feature the solution is simple … DO NOT USE IT!
If this feature gets your little politically correct, we have to bufu every male with a dick, little diapers in a twist then to bad for you. GROW UP!
Who someone else likes or does not like is not your business.
If someone isn’t interested in you then move on.
Not every person is every other person’s cup of tea.
batesmotel
I didn’t even know there was an ethnicity filter on there to begin with. Never delved that deep enough to look. Most gays tend to want whites only, including the ones that don’t say that. They like the all american straight acting white jock boy. The irony is that prototype also tends to be a republican.
M K
You are so out of touch
andrew.agee
Didn’t we fight for 40+ years to keep nosey, self-righteous people OUT of our bedrooms?
Now this, from the next generation, who simply don’t get it.
Fra
SPOT ON!
M K
If generally being attracted to and turned on by someone with particular attributes such as ethnicity makes someone a racist, then being attracted to and turned on by someone of a particular sex/gender would make someone sexist. How discriminating it is to eliminate women from being presented in profiles to ‘create community’ with. This is no different than any other preference.
Franklin
Not really the same thing. Gender and race are two different things. Also, racial preferences aren’t formed in a vacuum. And if we are being 100% honest, America has a tendency to negatively stereotype African-Americans which may have an effect on how we are viewed in this country in terms of potential partners. POC are immune to these perceptions either. Having been rasied in the dominant culture of the US, can have a profound effect on who some POC find attractive.
LumpyPillows
@franklin I’m just not attracted to most black men’s looks. Most, not all. I don’t think it is racist at all, but just what I find attractive. From pre-kindergarten I had black friends. It just is what it is.
cjc1414
So sick of black men calling the majority of white men racists. Check out black profiles so many say”NO WHITE MEN”, and so many looking for $$ to play!! If they have a problem with Grindr there are dating sites for black men. They call us racists, take a look in the mirror black men.
cms51212
Amazing how every effort to end “systemic racism” only generates more problems for the communities it tries to help. True racism is abhorrent and should be combated and brought to light, but deleting a filter on a gay hookup app won’t do that – digital social engineering can have consequences of its own. There will always be some racism on a planet with 7.8 billion people – sad but true . If the filter really bothered users they didn’t have to use it – it wasn’t being forced on anyone. People simply won’t stop being racist because a feature is deleted.
Fra
What a collection of bigotry in this article I don’t know where to start from, white gaze is a racist term, you’re basically tarring all the white people with the same brush of perving at black man which is quite ironic as with this article you’re supposed to condemn racist while you’re being racist yourself.
Then you say: “For many Black gay men and gay men of color, the ethnicity filters allow them to find other men and befriend and build a community with them”
How generous of you so basically the privilege of being able to search within an ethnic group should be a privilege given on the basic of the race.
White gay men should be forbidden to do it while black gay men would have the luxury of deciding, is this the equal society that you’re trying to build?
Fra
Another racist pearl in this alleged anti-racism article is this one:
“Many gay men of color are only invested in romantic relationships with other gay men of color for this very reason,”
so basically if there are some black man who want a romance only with a black man certainly it can’t be because of their sexual preferences, those raaaaacist preferences, it’s WHITE MEN FAULT!!! HEAR HEAR!!!