Queer Identities on Dating Apps

Dating apps are often an unenjoyable experience. For many cisgender, heterosexual people, the main source of frustration are other users. However, for LGBTQ users, especially trans and non-binary people, dating apps are a pain even before interacting with any other users. In a setting where gender and sexuality are at the forefront of interactions, stifling data categories can restrict queer users from fully and accurately representing themselves.

To better understand the ability of queer users to present and record themselves within the data of dating apps, as well as the tensions that may result, we are critically examining the range of allowed identities within dating apps and investigating the experiences of non-cisgender people who may use these apps. We aim to provide recommendations for improving dating app experiences for LGBTQ users, as well as contribute broader insight into the “queering” of dating apps.

Researchers

Katy Weathington, Morgan Klaus Scheuerman, Adrian Petterson, Jed Brubaker

Publications

1. XOXO or XX/XY? Gender Essentialism and Queer Exclusion on Dating Apps Weathington, Katy and Scheuerman, Morgan Klaus and Brubaker, Jed R.
   Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction 9, CSCW
   • Abstract
   • Reference
   • BibTeX
   • DOI: 10.1145/3711109
   Katy Weathington, Morgan Klaus Scheuerman, and Jed R. Brubaker. 2025. XOXO or XX/XY? Gender Essentialism and Queer Exclusion on Dating Apps. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction 9, CSCW. https://doi.org/10.1145/3711109

   @article{weathingtonXOXO2025,
     author = {Weathington, Katy and Scheuerman, Morgan Klaus and Brubaker, Jed R.},
     title = {XOXO or XX/XY? Gender Essentialism and Queer Exclusion on Dating Apps},
     year = {2025},
     journal = {Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction},
     volume = {9},
     number = {CSCW},
     doi = {10.1145/3711109},
     url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3711109},
     keywords = {dating apps, LGBTQ+, gender, sexuality, queer HCI},
     tags = {dating-apps-identity, queer-hci}
   }
   

   In a world with shrinking queer spaces, dating apps serve as a useful way to find romantic or sexual partners, make friends, and develop connections in an often fragmented community. However, dating app structures may exclude queer users more than their cisgender heterosexual counterparts. We examined how gender and sexuality are formatted as data in dating app profiles and algorithmically curated matchmaking functions. Based on an analysis of ten popular dating apps, we found gender and sexuality were often divided into descriptive labels and functional categories, which systematically marginalize or exclude queer identities from the matching process despite appearing inclusive.

2. Safety and Community Context: Exploring a Transfeminist Approach to Sapphic Relationship Platforms DeVito, Michael Ann and Feuston, Jessica L. and Melder, Erika and Malloy, Christen and Ponder, Cade and Brubaker, Jed R.
   
   • Abstract
   • Reference
   • BibTeX
   • DOI: 10.1145/3653694
   Michael Ann DeVito, Jessica L. Feuston, Erika Melder, Christen Malloy, Cade Ponder, and Jed R. Brubaker. 2024. Safety and Community Context: Exploring a Transfeminist Approach to Sapphic Relationship Platforms. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction 8, CSCW1: 203:1–203:34. https://doi.org/10.1145/3653694

   @article{devitoSafetyCommunityContext2024,
     title = {Safety and {{Community Context}}: {{Exploring}} a {{Transfeminist Approach}} to {{Sapphic Relationship Platforms}}},
     shorttitle = {Safety and {{Community Context}}},
     author = {DeVito, Michael Ann and Feuston, Jessica L. and Melder, Erika and Malloy, Christen and Ponder, Cade and Brubaker, Jed R.},
     date = {2024-04-26},
     journaltitle = {Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction},
     shortjournal = {Proc. ACM Hum.-Comput. Interact.},
     volume = {8},
     pages = {203:1--203:34},
     doi = {10.1145/3653694},
     issue = {CSCW1},
     keywords = {dating apps,feminist hci,journal,lgbtq+,nonbinary,online communities,online relationships,queer hci,sapphic,transgender},
     tags = {dating-apps-identity, queer-hci}
   }
   

   Relationship platforms (e.g., dating apps) are crucial tools for sapphics (trans women, cisgender women, and nonbinary people who are attracted to other sapphics). However, current platforms are not designed in a way that accounts for sapphic lived experience, especially the lived experience of sapphics who hold multiple marginalized identity characteristics. Even on platforms that do exist for sapphics, transgender women and nonbinary people are often subject to discrimination, fetishization, and stigmatization. To aid in the design of platforms that better serve the needs of multiply marginalized sapphics, we engaged a diverse group of 25 sapphics in six rounds of community discussion on key topics for relationship platform design. Based on participant discussions, we identify key challenges when designing for multiply marginalized sapphics around relationship structures, gender and sexuality classification, and safety priorities for interaction. We present two design priorities alongside community-sourced design directions which can help future designers address these challenges: identity-centric safety and community-based information formats.