Love is beyond the stiff walls and boundaries that are set by the society such as sizes, genders, religions, colour, and caste. Indian society is multifaceted when it comes to socially accept the LGBTQ community.
However, with section 377 being struck down by the Supreme Court, homosexuality is not a crime anymore, and with the Supreme Court’s decision to decriminalize sex among individuals of the same gender, dating for the LGBTQ community has taken on a beautiful transformation.
The dissolution of section 377 was the beginning of a long journey for the LGBTQ community to seek more such rights such as the right to marry and complete social acceptance. With that being said, the LGBTQ community turned towards online dating platforms to celebrate love and happiness.
You can easily find many websites and apps when it comes to heterosexual couples, but there was a need to have websites and apps that cater to the needs of homosexual couples as well. Here are some of the dating platforms for the LGBTQ community in India.
( LGBTQ+ : Choosing to be Who You Want to be: https://democraticnaari.com/2021/07/23/lgbtq-choosing-to-be-who-you-want-to-be/ )
Best dating sites and apps for LGBTQ+ in India
There are several websites and apps that allow the LGBTQ community to connect with each other and have a beautiful experience. Here is a list of the best LGBTQ dating platforms.
1. Grindr
Grindr platform is designed to cater to the needs of Gay, Queer, Trans, Bisexual, and trans people. Grindr is a global platform with a geolocation feature that allows users to connect with potential matches nearby or in the same city. Grindr is available as an app to both IOS and Android users.
Website: https://www.grindr.com/
2. Scruff
Scruff is a great platform for Gay and bisexual men, who are looking for serious relationships. The Scruff app has amazing features that allow users to find potential matches. Moreover, this dating platform also has a feature called Scruff venture that allows users to connect with similar people from around the world.
However, if someone is looking for a partner nearby, Scruff has a location filter. Furthermore, the Scruff app is not limited to finding relationships or life-long partners, the users can also find life-long friends.
Website: https://www.scruff.com/
3. AYA (As you are)
It is an Indian LGBTQ dating platform which was founded by Sunali Aggarwal with her co-founder Aditi Gupta. The idea behind this dating platform was to encourage the LGBTQ community to come out and experience the dating world without any pressure to change who they are.
AYA provides a very safe and secure environment for the entire LGBTQ community to come out and connect. AYA is only available to Android phone users.
Website: https://asyouare.in/
4. OkCupid
OkCupid is a platform for both homosexual men and women. OkCupid is one of the most famous apps among the LGBTQ community as it offers exceptional features such as pre-made questions to break the ice among two individuals on the app.
Moreover, OkCupid has an official website and as well as an app, which comes with 12 gender identities and 20 sexual orientations for the users to describe themselves better while signing up on the platform.
https://help.okcupid.com/category/206-lgbtq-resources
5. Delta
Delta app is one of the most emerging dating platforms for the LGBTQ community in India as it welcomes all genders and makes it easier for the LGBTQ community to find like-minded individuals. The users can send requests to their potential match and can start exchanging messages once the request is accepted.
6. Tinder
Originally Tinder was designed for heterosexual couples, but the dating platform became famous among the LGBTQ community for finding matches with the same needs and likes. Tinder became famous among the LGBTQ community since there were not many options for them.
Tinder platform embraced the LGBTQ+ users on its platform and added about 23+ gender options for users to clearly define their gender and sexual orientation. Tinder has a carousel feature that allows users to swipe through potential matches and connect with amazing people around. Tinder has a mobile app for both Android and IOS users.
Read More: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/04/tech/tinder-glaad-sexual-orientation/index.html
Common features of LGBTQ dating apps
Most of the LGBTQ dating apps mentioned above follow the basic structure like any other dating site. The main features of the above dating apps are:
- Free Registration: LGBTQ dating sites have a simple registration process that is completely free of cost.
- Free Profile Creation: The users can create their profile on the platform by adding their pictures and mentioning their personal details like hobbies, likes, dislikes, and interests.
- Messaging Feature: Some of the LGBTQ dating platforms offer you a free messaging feature where you can easily send messages to your potential matches. However, some apps offer a membership plan to their users for accessing the messaging feature of the website.
- Easy to Find Matches: Most of the LGBTQ dating platforms have a suggestion system where you get match suggestions according to the information like likes or dislikes. This way, you will be shown matches with similar interests. Other platforms have a carousel or a swiping feature to connect with your potential match.
- Other Features: Some other features of the LGBTQ dating platform which may be offered by the app are as follows:
- Pre-framed questions to ask your match for breaking the ice or starting a conversation.
- You can see who viewed your profile.
- You can use filters like age, location, gender, and other such filters.
- You can also send unlimited messages to unlimited users.
Some of the benefits of LGBTQ Dating Apps are as follows:
- Potential matches may result in long-term relationships:
The members of LGBTQ dating platforms want a match who wants a serious thing and are loyal. - You can have a good time:
The apps have made it easier for LGBTQ+ users to connect with people with similar needs and likes. Therefore, users can have a great time communicating and exploring each other’s interests. The dating apps give users a platform for enjoying with their potential matches. - Companionships:
The users can use the platform for developing meaningful friendships and long-term friendships as well. - Normalize LGBTQ dating in public:
The LGBTQ dating platforms can help to normalize how society frowns upon queer dating.
Some of the disadvantages of LGBTQ dating apps are as follows:
- Fraud profiles:
There are chances that you can come across fake profiles of users of LGBTQ dating apps who are there to scam you. So this is one of the disadvantages of the LGBTQ dating platform. Therefore, for your safety, you must follow all the safety guidelines provided by the dating platform. - Misrepresenting users on the website:
There are chances that you could come across some matches who misrepresent themselves for the sake of impressing you. Therefore, it is important to meet your match in a safe public place before you take the next step in your relationship. - No social acceptance:
Society might not accept you and your match in public. Moreover, you might encounter peer pressure for even registering yourself on the LGBTQ dating platform.
Conclusion
LGBTQ dating platforms are hoping for society to accept the stigma around the LGBTQ community. A society that is bound by a stiff set of cultural and social norms that dictates the terms and conditions of how a person is supposed to live and behave in the society can take a mental toll on the LGBTQ people, which may even lead to chronic depression. However, these LGBTQ dating platforms give us tiny hope for society to normalize and socially accept the LGBTQ community completely.
