UK Black Pride welcomes Grindr’s new initiative to tackle racism on the app
The initiative known as Kindr has been welcomed by the LGBT community including UK Black Pride
By Steve Brown
Grindr has officially launched a new initiative to combat racism on the app.
Known as Kindr, the new initiative kicked off with the first video in an upcoming number of videos and it has been welcomed by the LGBT community including UK Black Pride.
Josh Rivers, from UK Black Pride, tells Attitude: “UK Black Pride welcomes and supports Grindr’s significant and bold new initiative to tackle racism, discrimination and prejudice, and its drive to foster an inclusive environment on its global and important platform.
“Our movement depends on those in positions of power, those who can influence, doing what they must to ensure racism, sexism, misogyn(oir), transphobia and all forms of bullying are eradicated and we are impressed with the work spearheaded by Zach Stafford and his team.
“But this is not Grindr’s responsibility alone. While we are encouraged that Grindr is taking this step, we — as a community — must continue to fight for those most marginalised, create safe spaces for us and by us, and lead by example.
“Grindr’s new initiative means we now have one more tool in our battle, and one more much-needed safe space.
“We look forward to seeing the campaign unfold and experiencing a kinder Grindr for ourselves.”
Landen Zumwalt, a spokesperson for the hook-up app, also said in a statement that the initiative is calling for the community to stand “against sexual racism”.
Zumwalt said: “Sexual racism, transphobia, fat and femme shaming and further forms of othering such as stigmatization of HIV positive individuals are pervasive problems in the LGBTQ community.
“These community issues get brought onto our platform, and as a leader in the gay dating space, Grindr has a responsibility to not only protect our users, but also to set the standard for the broader community that we serve.
“Online discrimination has reached epidemic proportions affecting not only Grindr but other social networks.
“Our ‘Kindr’ initiative is a rallying call for Grindr and our community to take a stand against sexual racism and all forms of othering.”