The Stonewall Riots of June 1969 gave way to the LGBTQ+ movement and the celebrations we know today as Pride Month. It’s a celebration to honor those who have fought and are still fighting bravely for equality and inclusivity. It’s a time to celebrate the diversity and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community.

During Pride Month, Match Group teams across the country not only advocated for the rights and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community, but even launched a new resource to help some of the community connect. This year in particular, I am extremely proud, as a gay man, to work in a leadership role for a company that’s celebration of Pride is more than just symbolic.

In 2023 alone, state legislatures have introduced over 520 laws targeting the LGBTQ+ community, 70 of which have already been enacted so far this year. And in recent months, backlash and boycotts against corporate inclusion of LGBTQ+ Americans have targeted more large corporations, forcing some to withdraw their support for the community.

In the face of these attacks, Match Group doubled down on its commitment to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. On June 1, Match Group launched Archer, a new social-first dating app for gay, bisexual, and queer men. Through the use of AI technology and extensive market research, Archer aims to create a safer space for men to boldly and freely seek whatever type of connection they desire. Archer is the first app for this community designed for celebration rather than secrecy. It is the app I wish I had when I first came out.

Dating apps are an important tool for LBGTQ+ daters to connect. The Relationship Report, a recent Ipsos survey in partnership with Match Group, reveals some interesting nuances about how the LGBTQ+ community uses dating apps globally. 

• One in 10 LGBTQ+ people surveyed who are in a relationship say they met their partner online.
• LGBTQ+ adults in U.S., Japan, and Germany are more likely to have ‘ever used’ dating apps and websites than the general population (46% vs 31%), emphasizing their importance for this group.
• LGBTQ+ females under 30 years old in Germany (68%) and LGBTQ+ males over 30 years old in the U.S. (64%) reporting the most satisfaction with online dating matches.

In Dallas, the home of Match Group’s headquarters, employees marched in the Dallas Pride Parade and hosted an event with The Dallas Holocaust & Human Rights Museum to highlight the special exhibition we’re sponsoring on the LGBTQ+ Rights Movement. This is all on top of the advocacy Match Group has done through the years to create meaningful, lasting change in this country. Just last year, Match Group partnered with HRC to recruit donors who were essential in overturning the FDA's discriminatory ban on donating blood, then stepped up to advocate for passing the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act, codifying marriage rights.

I am proud of the work that we’ve done and progress that we’ve made to lift up the LGBTQ+ community and create a more equitable society. We at Match Group are committed to continuing to work—not just during Pride Month, but every single day—towards a world where everyone can live freely and authentically.