A new app tailored towards queer women, trans, and nonbinary individuals is set to release within the next month. Purr is a versatile and flexible social networking and dating app. The multi-use app strives to create a safe and usable app like nothing seen before.
The app has been a long time coming. Boyan Golden, CEO and founder of Purr, noticed an apparent divide in the digital LGBTQ world. Golden spoke about his experience in undergrad at Illinois State University, a formative moment for Purr. There, he was friends with the women’s rugby team, many of whom identified as queer. Golden would often visit them at their rugby house. One day, while watching a documentary about the mass closure of lesbian bars in the U.S., an important conversation emerged. It eventually sparked the blueprint to what is now Purr. Why is there no streamlined, universal, and widely accepted platform for queer women? Similar to drag kings, Golden explained, there is historically a lack of visibility for queer women. In the age of advancing technology, tons of communication platforms and opportunities, why isn’t there something like this?
Golden and his amazing team have worked vigorously to create a space that brings those elements together. Unhappy with the absence of a market or space for queer women to communicate on a mobile, universal platform, they sought to change that. While there are a plethora of apps for queer men and their sub-communities, there are few on the other side of the spectrum. In general, in the dating world today, there is often an air of disconnect. Swiping left and right “closes down a lot of doors and a lot of communicative opportunities,” says Golden. “I think dating opportunities come naturally sometimes. So, when we gear the app a little bit to show a community forward space, I think connections will form very genuinely and very organically.”
Over the last few years, the team has connected with an abundance of external partners and leaders. Diligently researching their desired demographics, the team partnered with Lesbian Bar Project, Gay Water, a variety of influencers, and roughly eight lesbian bars across the U.S. to build not just an app, but an opportunity. The beautiful minds behind Purr have worked with some amazing people, but the team is rather amazing themselves. Creating the app in their personal time— “It’s a labor of love, truly.”
Purr’s interface is unique. Instead of a swipe-to-match method, Purr uses geolocation methodology. This allows a ton of versatility and a physically visible community. Nobody is simply placed in a narrow box. Movement and visibility can become important communicators. Community and local events can be highlighted. Of course, Purr has taken safety precautions, like allowing users to turn on and off their locations. “This would be something entirely new, to take one’s own journey and involvement in the community into their own hands.”
The profile setup is versatile and unrestrictive, allowing users to set up their app in their own way. From platonic relationships, general introductions, networking, to dating, Purr allows the profile to be built in a forward way the user is comfortable with. Users can bring in their own direct language, incorporating their zodiac sign, their industry, their subgroups, etc. There is a rigid verification process which uses state ID, state driver’s license, or a U.S. passport to put a person to their name and identity upon selfie verifications. Even for nonbinary folks, the team works hard in the background to ensure identity verification even if the ID doesn’t quite match the picture. This way, the community can feel confident while they work to uplift and support each other. In addition, there is another added layer of security with disappearing photos. A component of discretion and safety is important, and screenshotted images will turn black.
Peter Sustad (he/him), the head of communications for Purr, spoke on the importance of this opportunity to support queer women and trans and nonbinary people. “I think it’s very important that they are given the space that they deserve to connect with their community, in whatever fashion that might look like.” The app’s emphasis on community membership and local connections is focal in creating an inclusive, supportive space.
The app will become available nationwide on iOS and Android. Its launch is estimated to be in June, and the team of Purr is excited to give back to an underrepresented community. Purr is not only an important digital space, but a step towards creating a cultured movement towards equity and visibility. “It’s about being able to have the same stage as queer men.”
Golden, Sustad, and the rest of the team are excited to watch the app grow and use feedback to perfect it. Stay tuned for the upcoming launch, and as Golden mentioned, “mobile things, you know, usually start from grassroot moments. So we’ll look back at this moment and really be thankful.”
Image courtesy of Purr
