Study Finds Transgender People Are the Most Communicative Daters

A new study commissioned by the dating app Hinge revealed that when it comes to queer relationships, trans people are more likely to be open communicators. For many queer respondents, communication, or lack thereof, played a key role in their relationships.

The study surveyed more than 14,000 queer daters and collected their responses to a series of questions regarding relationships. The report, titled “Beyond the Talking Stage,” contains three sections that offer insights into communicating before, during, and after the first date.

Researchers found that bisexuals are three times more likely to have never dated other queer-identified people, and are more likely to experience a fear of exploration. Furthermore, because of the perceived, and sometimes real biphobia within the LGBTQ community, it can be extra intimidating for bi daters to disclose their dating history.

However, the study also showed that around 80% of LGBTQ individuals are open to being someone’s first same-sex or otherwise queer partner. In addition, the researchers indicate that transparency and open communication are crucial to overcoming said fears.

The study reported that the biggest dating obstacle for LGBTQ people in 2022 was communication. Fifty-seven percent of respondents said issues with communication had affected their romantic relationships. However, trans daters are leading the way in encouraging open communication with their partners.

The study suggests that due to the common misunderstandings of trans people’s identities, they are more likely to communicate their expectations and goals before the first date. More than 70% of trans respondents said they outline what kind of relationship they’re looking for before going on a first date.

“So they’re more likely to communicate before the date and after the date,” Moe Ari Brown, licensed therapist, and Hinge’s love and connection expert, tells The Advocate. Brown is a mental health expert who works with LGBTQ individuals, couples, and families to help them connect and love themselves.

“There are so many misconceptions about gender identity and, you know, how we live and how we love, what it means to be transgender,” they say. “We’re faced with these conversations quite regularly. And then I think transgender people are more likely to have also had to have many intimate personal conversations with all of the people in their lives, from the workplace, to where they go to school, to who they’re in a family and community with. Because, you know, gender transitions are pretty public even though there’s this assumption that someone could hide their gender identity or something from someone.”

When it comes to getting a second date with folks in the LGBTQ community, 89% of respondents said they felt a date was successful if a meaningful conversation was had. In addition, the study found that good conversation doubled the chances of a second date compared to physical intimacy.

Members of the LGBTQ community highlighted the importance of communication throughout a relationship, even at its end. A majority of respondents indicated that they’d prefer a breakup text to being ghosted.

The report reveals that 79% of LGBTQ daters do not consider healthy arguments the most critical aspect of dating, but embracing disagreements is a crucial step toward getting past the talking stage. Daters can build authentic relationships by learning how to navigate their differences on their journey to better communication.