By Associated Press
Published June 1, 2007, 6:17 AM CDT
LOS ANGELES -- A Northern California woman sued the online dating service eHarmony on Thursday, alleging it discriminates against gays, lesbians and bisexuals.
Linda Carlson said she tried to use the Internet site in February to meet a woman but could not based on her sexual orientation. When Carlson wrote to eHarmony to complain, the company refused to change its policy, according to the lawsuit filed on her behalf in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The lawsuit claims that by only offering to find a compatible match for men seeking women or women seeking men, the company was violating state law barring discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
"Such outright discrimination is hurtful and disappointing for a business open to the public in this day and age," Carlson said in a statement.
The lawsuit names Pasadena-based eHarmony.com Inc., company founder Neil Clark Warren and his wife Marylyn, the company's former vice president, as defendants. It seeks class-action status, a jury trial and unspecified damages.
The company, which conducts extensive personality profiling before introducing couples with matching values and interests, denied the allegation.
"The research that eHarmony has developed, through years of research, to match couples has been based on traits and personality patterns of successful heterosexual marriages," a company statement said. "Nothing precludes us from providing same-sex matching in the future, it's just not a service we offer now based upon the research we have conducted."
Warren is a clinical psychologist who has written several books about dating and relationships.
Linda Carlson said she tried to use the Internet site in February to meet a woman but could not based on her sexual orientation. When Carlson wrote to eHarmony to complain, the company refused to change its policy, according to the lawsuit filed on her behalf in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The lawsuit claims that by only offering to find a compatible match for men seeking women or women seeking men, the company was violating state law barring discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
"Such outright discrimination is hurtful and disappointing for a business open to the public in this day and age," Carlson said in a statement.
The lawsuit names Pasadena-based eHarmony.com Inc., company founder Neil Clark Warren and his wife Marylyn, the company's former vice president, as defendants. It seeks class-action status, a jury trial and unspecified damages.
The company, which conducts extensive personality profiling before introducing couples with matching values and interests, denied the allegation.
"The research that eHarmony has developed, through years of research, to match couples has been based on traits and personality patterns of successful heterosexual marriages," a company statement said. "Nothing precludes us from providing same-sex matching in the future, it's just not a service we offer now based upon the research we have conducted."
Warren is a clinical psychologist who has written several books about dating and relationships.
Copyright © 2007, The Associated Press
5 comments:
Wouldn't this be the same thing as me suing a dating service that caters only to gay and lesbian matching? I honestly don't think I would sue them over the fact that their service has done research on homosexual coupling rather than heterosexual. I would imagine there could be different dynamics involved in same-sex relationships and if the company hadn't conducted any research in that area, how could they use the same methods for "matching" people up. Maybe I am missing something here... anyone care to clarify this for me?
...or suing McDonalds because they don't serve peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
This isn't a case of discrimination so much as it is a case about someone with an agenda to advance, and a lawyer with dollar signs in his or her eyes.
It's dangerous to do business in the era of instant litigation, because you never know if specializing in a service will result in you getting your ass sued off.
Don't get me wrong, I do support gay rights; but private industry isn't obligated to offer special services to their dating needs. If there isn't such a service available to the gay community (and I have a hard time believing there isn't something out there already), then that is a perfect example of supply and demand, and a niche market that could potential net someone millions.
Eh, I'm not really concerned either way. Likely, the court will throw out the case because it lacks merit, or eHarmony will offer some small settlement, and then in 6 months the company will offer a service for same-sex matching.
I am not sure I agree with the analogies posted here though. I mean, I see the point, but if there was a site that offered "scientific" matching for white couples and denied blacks and asians, that would generally be perceived as discriminatory and racist. In fact, I can't really see company being able to get away with that. What is the difference?
First of all, my analogy is the exact situation reversed, so how is that not apt?
Secondly, I can't believe you just compared a genetic difference in sexual desire (perhaps the key element in the human animal) and the amount of melanin in one's skin (a rather insignificant trait). That's comparing apples and igneous rocks.
How can you say for sure that male heterosexuals and female homosexuals seek the same traits in women? I would think they may have different criteria. I just think that without research the argument that they are identical is without merit. And seeing as how Eharmony did their research in heterosexual couples, it would be remiss of them to claim otherwise.
I have a couple random comments to add:
1. I don't the company should HAVE to settle out of court over an issue like this. I think that's morally wrong.
2. Homosexuality isn't always genetic. Yes, one can have genetic or other biological predilections towards being gay, but sometimes, people just are. They grow up, and the summation of their experiences result in an attraction toward the same sex. There's no silver bullet to describe why people are gay... it's a multitude of factors and reasons, and not all have to be present for it to happen.
3. ...and yet websites exist that cater only to matching heterosexual African-Americans, Latinos, and other American minorities…what is the difference between these, and a website that caters only to Caucasians? Oh yeah, the latter is racist, the former are not. [plays hypocrisy card] Don’t get me wrong, European-Americans haven’t exactly been playing fair for the past few hundred centuries… I recognize that, and I’m glad that we’ve come such a long way since even 40 years ago. But if we’re ever going to be an enlightened society, then we have to be willing to ditch the double standard. It only generates resentment and creates new divisions. Paternal racism is still racism… White Devils are people too!
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