Mumbai: This Pride month, Tinder, a dating app has released its first Queer Dating Starter Pack in India. Developed with Gaysi Family, a queer-owned, queer-run media platform, this visual checklist will be a great assist for young first-time queer daters on Tinder, offering essential guidance on self-discovery, dating etiquette, consent, safety & boundaries, and self-care. Building on the LetsTalkGender.in guide and glossary launched by Tinder in 2022, the new checklist is integrated into this resource to be a trusted companion, providing quick check-ins as they navigate their dating firsts on Tinder!
Tinder has also announced the return of Queer Made Weekend, one of India’s most popular pride festivals, dedicated to celebrating, supporting, and amplifying businesses and products made, owned, and run by India’s LGBTQIA+ community. Tinder Queer Made Weekend will be held on 8 June 2024 at Jio World Drive in Mumbai and DLF Promenade in Delhi on 15 - 16 June 2024.
Dating apps are becoming a space where young adults comfortably explore and express their gender and sexuality, with 7 out of 10 young daters in India agreeing that dating apps offer more freedom for self-exploration and have helped dismantle stereotypes and expectations surrounding gender, sex, and relationships.1 Given the growing comfort in using dating apps for self-discovery, this checklist gives first-time queer daters a crucial edge in navigating various dating scenarios with confidence and clarity.
To support queer newbies to be the most authentic selves on their dating journeys, Tinder's Queer Dating Starter Pack, curated by Gaysi Family with insights from The QKnit, offers practical advice based on real-life experiences of the queer community. The FAQ section addresses common concerns and uncertainties that may arise during the dating process, such as readiness to date, exploring one’s identity, and understanding boundaries. In June 2024, Tinder users in India will see the Swipe Cards directing them to detailed checklists on LetsTalkGender.in.
Gaysi Family digital content editor Tejaswi Subramanian shared, “Gaysi Family and Tinder have a history of collaborating on initiatives like the Museum of Queer Swipe Stories, Tinder Queer Made Weekend and Let's Talk Gender, aimed at celebrating inclusivity. We are now addressing a significant need for young queer daters who are navigating their dating lives for the first time. Many existing resources offering dating advice are often neither thoughtful nor inclusive. Our checklists fill that gap by encouraging young queer daters in India to engage thoughtfully with their connections while staying true to themselves. This effort complements the resources that we have co-created over the years. Here's to creating a safe and enjoyable dating culture for young queer individuals! ”
“Tinder has always supported the freedom of its users to explore their individuality both on the app and in real life with features like More Genders, Sexual Orientation, and Traveler Alert, among others. We’re so honoured to play a role in the dating journey of Tinder’s queer users, from coming out to finding a community, and are committed to creating more inclusive ways to help them make authentic connections we know today’s daters value the most. The Queer Dating Starter Pack underscores this commitment by providing essential support to our users, especially first-time queer daters navigating their dating firsts on Tinder.”- Tinder India communications director Aahana Dhar
Tinder has also introduced a series of new profile stickers such as ‘Came Out Online’, ‘My First Pride’ and more, giving members more options to express themselves and connect with others in an authentic and relatable way to celebrate Pride. Tinder’s Pride stickers will be available in the app beginning June 3. Members can view The Pride Sticker Center and add stickers to their profile by tapping on in-app notifications.
