Grindr to remove ethnicity filter as part of ‘zero-tolerance policy for racism’

The gay dating and hook-up app Grindr announced Monday that it will remove its ethnicity filter as part of its “zero-tolerance policy for racism.”

Grindr posted on Twitter that the decision was made based on feedback and to show its commitment to fighting racism and hate speech. The company said it will be making a donation to the Marsha P. Johnson Institute and Black Lives Matter and encouraged others “to do the same if you can.”

“We stand in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement and the hundreds of thousands of queer people of color who log in to our app every day,” the tweeted statement began.

“We will continue to fight racism on Grindr, both through dialogue with our community and a zero-tolerance policy for racism and hate speech on our platform,” it added. “As part of this commitment, and based on your feedback, we have decided to remove the ethnicity filter from our next release.”

We will not be silent. Black Lives Matter. https://t.co/K671PrwJc0 pic.twitter.com/93ninYt2u9

— Grindr (@Grindr) June 1, 2020

Premium users of the Grindr app can currently set their preferences for “ethnicity” among other characteristics to specify with whom they want to connect.  

The company said in an Instagram post Monday that it would be adjusting plans for its June #PridePerserves initiative, saying “in light of the ongoing violence and injustices against our POC [people of color] family, that no longer feels appropriate.”

“How can we launch a month of celebration when so many of us are hurting?” the post said. “How can we celebrate Pride without acknowledging that we wouldn’t even HAVE a Pride month if it weren’t for the brave black, brown, trans, and queer folks whose uprising against the police at Stonewall gave birth to the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement?”

“It is our responsibility to speak out against the hate and violence that such a vital part of our community continue to face,” the statement added.

Grindr plans to announce the calendar for the program on Tuesday “but in a different light.”

“Yes, we can still come together in the spirit of Pride, but Pride this year has an added responsibility, a shifted tone, and a new priority that will be reflected in our programming — support and solidarity for queer people of color and the #BlackLivesMatter movement,” the post said.

The announcements comes as protests have broken out in cities across the country in response to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis l ast week.

Video footage shows former officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd says he cannot breathe and becomes unresponsive. Chauvin has since been fired and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

The three other officers involved in Floyd’s arrest have been fired but not charged.