Case Study

The recommended options for gender are woman, man, nonbinary/genderqueer, different identity, and decline to state. Different identity should have the option to write in an identity if needed. It is also important that a user can choose multiple options for gender if they desire to do so. The answers to this question would be displayed on a user’s profile if they chose to do so. If a user has questions about gender, they can view the optional pop-up or be directed to more resources.

The terms nonbinary and genderqueer are put in the same category as they are often used interchangeably within the community. Data shows that “nonbinary” tends to be used more often by younger individuals, and “genderqueer” tends to be used by older members of the community.

Transgender identification should be optional to answer as well as publish on a profile. Some users on dating apps see publicly identifying as transgender as a precautionary measure to weed out bad matches, but others prefer to go “stealth” and not bring up their identity. In addition, self-identification as a transgender person is debated in the transgender community, as some believe that nonbinary individuals do not qualify under that label. In order to provide a safe and secure environment, allow transgender people the ability to self-identify to their own preference. It is also important that all users are asked this question, as that raises awareness of transgender users they may encounter. It is recommended to have additional resources, as well as the provided pop-up, for users to interact with if they have questions.

If a person marks “yes” to transgender, a popup should appear asking if they wish to provide more details about their sex and transition. The popup should note that all questions are optional and do not need to be displayed to other users. The following are examples of those questions.

Questions about sex and transition for transgender people are complicated. Although they are important for dating, they can invite transphobia and harassment if not handled properly. The best approach is to put the choice in the user’s hands. It should be up to the user whether or not they want to provide more details on their medical status, and whether or not they want to display that information publicly. This creates space for users who want to publicly talk about their transition to do so, while also protecting transgender users who do not want to talk about the details of their transition. Ensure this question is clearly marked as optional.

Medical transition can be important when discussing transition for transgender people. Although all transgender people are valid whether or not they choose to transition, some transgender people want to be upfront about what matches should expect when they meet up. Each person’s transition is different, but the above terms are the most often used when referring to medical transition. Ensure this question is clearly marked as optional.

Instead of marking specific sexual orientations, it is more inclusive (and efficient) for users to choose who they are attracted to. That way there is no bias in defining identity labels, and users are able to be specific on their preferences.