Instagram Rolls Out New LGBTQ+ Features

Instagram just announced that they will soon be rolling out a new feature to make profile gender selection more inclusive. Currently, the app only allows for “female,” “male,” and “not specified.” Instagram will be including a “trans” and “gender nonconforming” option so as to be “more inclusive and reflective of how people self-identify today.” Instagram’s parent company, Facebook, made a similar move a few years ago.

Instagram is also recognizing popular hashtags such as #LGBTQ, #Pride2019, #EqualityMatters, #UntoldPride, and #AccelerateAcceptance and will automatically add a rainbow gradient to posts using these tags. Stories using these tags will also feature a rainbow gradient for 24 hours. The platform is also promoting lesser-known LGBTQ+ figures and educating the public on some of the important histories that have not been given attention.

 

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It’s Pride Month – officially! 🌈⚡️🦄 – and Aaron Philip (@aaron___philip) has a message for young LGBTQ+ people: “Take care of each other and keep growing. This is your world and everywhere is your space,” says the 18-year-old fashion model. “Soak it all up.” This June, we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community by sharing stories of #UntoldPride. “Pride to me means acknowledging the roots and history of our community and holding space to collectively uplift and take care of one another,” Aaron says. Follow along this month and beyond as we shine a spotlight on people who are making a difference just by being themselves, and check out @lgbt_history to see even more stories of #UntoldPride. Photo of @aaron___philip by @ohmakeda

A post shared by Instagram (@instagram) on Jun 10, 2019 at 11:08am PDT

Additionally, Instagram is making efforts to be more supportive of the LGBTQ+ community by adding a guide to safety and well-being feature, in collaboration with the Trevor Project, that is aimed at helping LGBTQ+ youth by promoting awareness of the possible dangers of sharing information online, as well as giving tips for promoting self-care.