The intersection of technology and transphobia has found a troubling manifestation in the form of L’App, a gender-critical dating application that promises to offer a “female-only” space by using facial recognition technology to exclude transgender individuals. The app, created by Jenny Watson, claims to be a safe haven for cisgender lesbians but, in reality, operates as a tool of exclusion against the transgender community.
L’App uses advanced facial recognition software, purportedly with 99% accuracy, to determine whether a user is cisgender or transgender based on their facial features. This dystopian approach to dating has sparked significant controversy, particularly during a time when the LGBTQ+ community is advocating for inclusivity and equal rights. A trans man, Henry Carnell, decided to test the app’s claims by signing up under the guise of a cisgender woman. Despite his testosterone-induced stubble, he successfully gained access to the platform, exposing the flawed and discriminatory nature of the app’s technology.
Carnell’s experience within the app was telling. With fewer than 100 members, the community was eerily silent, save for occasional posts by Watson herself. The app, which promises to protect women from “trans-identifying males,” ironically failed to recognize Carnell as transgender, highlighting the inherent flaws in using technology to police gender. The app’s exclusivity is not just a technical challenge; it represents a broader societal issue where trans people are systematically excluded from spaces under the guise of “protection.”
Critics of L’App, including the founder of the trans-inclusive dating app HER, Robyn Exton, have expressed deep disappointment with the timing and intention behind its launch. Exton pointed out the app’s opportunistic nature, exploiting online discourse around trans issues during Pride Month, a time meant for celebrating unity and diversity within the LGBTQ+ community. HER, which boasts over 15 million members, has been a staunch supporter of trans inclusion since its inception, standing in stark contrast to the exclusionary practices of L’App.
The existence of such apps underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the transgender community in accessing safe and inclusive spaces, even within the LGBTQ+ umbrella. As technology continues to evolve, it is imperative that it be used to foster inclusivity rather than to reinforce divisions and discrimination.