California lesbian sues eHarmony.com for discrimination

News 2007-06-05 California lesbian sues eHarmony.com for discrimination A Northern California woman sued the online dating service eHarmony on Thursday, alleging it discriminates against gays, lesbians

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 was refused 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 offering to find a compatible match only 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. (AP)

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Name: CJ
Date posted: 7/13/2008 2:45:00 PM
Hometown: Tinton Falls, NJ

Comment:
This lawsuit is NOT part of an agenda. It is within the rights of lesbians and gays (or any American citizen, regardless of orientation) to speak of discrimination when discrimination is quite obvious. My issue with eHarmony is that although I cannot become a member, I receive no less than 30 emails (spam) a day from this website. I believe that this woman is totally within her rights by instituting this lawsuit and would love to see it gain class action status. The site "prides itself on its diversity." That is a false and misleading statement on their part and if this were the case, the LGBT community would not be excluded. And just out of curiosity, for those who commented above, if you are against the LGBT community, why are you reading "The Advocate?"
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Name: Sal
Date posted: 6/30/2008 1:18:00 AM
Hometown: Houston

Comment:
eHarmony.com is a website for straight people. I know lesbians think that they're the center of the universe and that every woman secretly desires lesbians an that every man thinks that "lesbianism is hot". Get OVER YOURSELVES, you're not the center of the universe. I myself find lesbianism about as boring as watching paint dry. Lesbianism is natural for some women, but don't try and shove down everyone elses throats. There are sometimes where a straight guy would like to go without lesbians constantly hitting on his lady, or to express interest in a lady without having to wonder if straight or a lesbian. Lesbians invade all the straight clubs, yet want to have all the lesbian clubs and bars all for themselves.
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Name: Joy Donahue
Date posted: 6/28/2008 1:42:00 PM
Hometown: Indianapolis

Comment:
This lawsuit is complete nonsense. It simply shows the "agenda" of a certain group of individuals wanting acceptance for an aberrant lifestyle which reflects the individuals hate for self! The "gays" believe that changing laws will make them feel satisfied. This group will never stop trying to change society to fit their divient lifestyles.

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