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RACISM AND HOMOPHOBIA ON GAYDAR AND OTHER 'DATING' WEBSITES

RACISM AND HOMOPHOBIA ON GAYDAR AND OTHER 'DATING' WEBSITES

112 signatures 138 to reach 250
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Started by Anonymous 19 years, 2 months ago
If you use GAYDAR or other similar dating websites you will have noticed people making comments such as: "No/not into Asians/Blacks" sometimes added by "sorry, that's just my taste". These comments are offensive and we don't say that face to face nor in any other public space. This type of comment virtually only ever refers to Asians and Blacks. Even though there are some users who are looking for Asians/Blacks/Latins in particular, they don't write "No Whites, sorry". Those comments are sometimes expressed in a very hostile or derogatory way, such as "NO ASIANS!", "NO GAM (gay Asian male)" and even "No Indians!". Are they really expressing their sexual preferences, or showing a more fundamental aversion to those races/nationalities People also feel that some comments such as "Whites ONLY" could be written in a way which is less aversive to ethnic minorities. Those comments remind us of very similar sign-posts that were put up in front of bars in the apartheid era. Many users of those websites are also offending effeminate gay men with comments such as "NO FEMS!", "NO CAMPS" or "No queens!" (sometimes added by further derogatory comments). Those hostile, aversive, derogatory comments are very similar, if not borrowed from the ones that effeminate gay guys sometimes face from the rest of society. Some users also refer to guys who are HIV positive in a very derogatory way, such as "I'm looking for DISEASE-FREE guys". The correct way to campaign against the spread of HIV is not to offend those who have contracted it. Those comments are either made recklessly or with a specific intention to offend; the effect is to damage people's self esteem. What's the point of the 500th anniversary of slavery if blacks, or any other race, are allowed to be treated like this What happened to gay pride There is currently no effective means of regulation of appeal. We therefore request all dating websites (GAYDAR.CO.UK, GAYROMEO.COM, GAY.COM, MANHUNT.NET etc): 1) To clearly prohibit or restrict any hostile or derogatory language toward any RACE, NATIONALITY, EFFEMINATE or HIV POSITIVE GAY MEN in any member's individual page or chat rooms, including: a) Expressing their preferences in a negative sentence (e.g. No/Not into/Don't go for/Dislike Asians/Blacks/Whites/Indians/Fems/Camps/Queens/Diseased etc). b) Using an exclusionary clause (e.g. "Whites ONLY", or "JUST looking for Whites") c) Giving unnecessary emphasis: e.g. "I'm looking for WHITE DISEASE-FREE men" (capital letters in a small letter sentence) 2) At the level of implementation, those websites could simply request their members to follow a standardised format or certain profile-writing guidelines whenever referring to those preferences: e.g. "I'm looking for (Asian, Black, Latin, White etc), masculine, HIV negative guys"; those websites could also create a box in which members could have the option to tick certain characteristics (including racial background, masculinity etc) which they look for in others. That's how people express themselves in paid dating adverts in newspapers or magazines. They don't generally write what they are not looking for, and restrictions to the use of derogatory language apply. 3) To create a report system that would allow members to easily report offensive language to those website's personnel. Following the report of offensive language, those websites could simply send an automatic message to that member saying that another member thought that the way he expressed his personal preferences was offensive, and suggest that he follows the profile-writing guidelines. Sign up now and let's say yes to tolerance and mutual respect on the web! It will also help if you send this petition out to friends!

Updates

November 23, 2012

I never imagined this would actually take off like this because it feels like we are finally calling out the things people have just been ignoring for way too long. It is wild to see so many people agreeing that these profiles reflect something deeper than just personal preference and honestly it gives me a lot of hope that we might actually get these sites to listen.

Reached 100 supporters

November 23, 2012

6 Comments

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Chris Ellis
19 years ago Featured

so tired of reading people who think they can set rules like it is 1950. just talk to people like human beings.

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Mark Murray
19 years ago Featured

its honestly so gross to see this stuff every time i log on. people think they can just be hateful because it is online. needs to stop.

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David Pratt
19 years ago Featured

NO FEMS is just as bad. why are we tearing each other down like this? we should be looking out for each other not being so toxic.

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Jason West
19 years ago Featured

PREFERENCE IS ONE THING BUT THE WAY PEOPLE WORD IT IS JUST PLAIN RACIST. DO BETTER.

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Sarah Holmes
19 years ago Featured

finally someone calling this out. the racism on these apps is out of control and so blatant. nobody should have to read that garbage.

K
Kevin Sullivan
19 years ago Featured

the disease free part makes me sick. we are better than this as a community.

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