Or if a need to stay virtual exists, offer education on hard to speak about topics like sexuality and identity

Jaimie Wood : “Unfortunately I don’t think “changes” need to apply to the apps. More the people, you know? I will say, I believe if people want to be more welcoming, offer something special for minorities. Meet and greets for entrepreneurs of color or learning to cook in drag-type things. ”

Krystal Sergeant : “Having a slightly wider variety of interests and categories you can pick, in a slight bit more than gay, bi, and straight, basically. If there was just a bit more diversity with what you can choose. And I’m not saying have a button or a thing to click for transgender people, but just saying like, oh, I’m into girls, but trans girls, I’m into them as well. Because if a guy who says “into trans girls” as well, or doesn’t mind, they’re not really gonna click bisexual. It’s a bit of a difficult subject.”

Neon Calypso : “Hiring of trans developers so there’s actual insight on what we are seeking in regards to dating apps. I find the idea of preference listings outdated. We all know what you’re looking for in a dating app. I also find blank profiles outdated. Sis, it’s 2022!”

The XOXO dating app manifests the “no labels” concept. The app is designed to encourage users to discover more about others’ personalities. It motivates people to value the profiles not in a sexualized way, but in a “looking for friends and soulmates” way. Everyone takes a personality quiz while onboarding; thus, users seem more motivated to discover the personalities of others. The choice of pronouns is also much richer than the majority of dating apps.

This looks like a much safer place for trans people and all queer people – here you feel free to express yourself without judgment. At some point, my profile, as a transgender woman, became the most popular one on this dating app.

Also, there are apps like Thrust that have a much wider array of categories to choose from in terms of sexual identity and gender, allowing many users to finally find that terminology that accurately describes them

Lex, a text-centered social app, lets you connect with queer lovers and friends on an intellectual and emotional level. Since you can’t use photos or videos, individuals use a linguistic approach to express their personalities.

Thankfully, some apps try new approaches to the online dating experience

Even Tinder is working on broadening gender selection options: now you can at least type your preferred gender. Hinge added the same feature, and you can decide whether you want to show your gender to other users or not. Both apps are also adding interest and personality-based features, such as Hinge’s audio notes.

But even all that may not be enough. There are still limitations and we can be putting some people in a box, in categories they don’t belong to. Yes, there are apps like OkCupid, and Taimi, and exclusive apps like Chappy or Her. But even within this diversity of LGBTQI-friendly/only dating apps, many people still feel left out and can’t find what they’re looking for on these platforms.

Online dating platforms are adjusting with the needs of society. Each company takes its own approach, but I hope that the industry will keep making improvements based on actual trans people’s needs and the problems they frequently face while using dating apps, so we can have even more safe, accurate and versatile experiences.

Ilona Verley : “I would love to see a brief “sensitivity training” pop up that outlines the various different gendered individuals that app users might encounter on the said app and how to address them correctly. I personally find a lot of men who like trans woman don’t understand calling us “trannys” isn’t okay until I lay that out for them, at that point most are understanding and apologetic! Education is so key!”