Advocate.com reports that eHarmony.com (Wiki) has settled a lawsuit and will stop discriminating against gays and lesbians by March 2009. However, eHarmony reserves the right to include the disclaimer that "their compatibility-based matching system was developed solely on the basis of researched focused on married heterosexual couples" according to the article (because, you know, gays and lesbians are basically a different species of human). In a 2005 interview, eHarmony's founder defended his company's discrimination against gay and lesbian customers.
It's disappointing that eHarmony has only decided to cave-in to a lawsuit and still seems reluctant to provide services to gay and lesbians. For a company that originally touted its ultra-right wing Focus On The Family connections, I hoped it would have defended its anti-gay moral convictions or enthusiastically embraced its new found inclusive enlightenment. 'Because we have to' is probably worse than open, honest discrimination.
4 comments:
Oh, I love the graphic! It is too perfect.
A commenter at the Advocate asked, "Does Manhunt have to offer heterosexual matches now?"
I don't know. I really didn't think this was necessary--I'd rather have seen a site that was LGBT-owned or LGBT-friendly from the beginning make that money. The internet is so good for niche marketing, and eHarmony ought to have been able to fill the "uptight conservative" niche. Even the name of the new site, "Compatible Partners," is just icky. I also don't think that they're going to do a good job by our community. People generally don't feel passionate and dedicated to things they've been forced to do.
*sighs* Maybe I'll be proven wrong.
LOL! Yes, I imagine that Manhunt would need to includes services to heterosexual men seeking casual sex with men. :)
The "Compatible Partners" name rubbed me the wrong way too. Why do gays and lesbians need to be quarantined to their own site?
ok...this is going to sound horrible...but...since i've been a member of eharmony in the past...let me just say...
it's SO over-rated.....which i think most of the gays understood all ready...
i mean...seriously...i've had no luck there mostly just from stating plainly that i'm a DEMOCRAT!!!!
it's a completely UPTIGHT dating site...
i'm quite certain i'd find more compatibility with the new parameters....and yet....no...i'd better not go that route again! ha! :)
Hi Pam,
I've heard similar criticisms about eHarmony from other women too. It's so misleading how their TV ads never mention their politically conservative leanings.
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