Coping with racism in gay online dating sites. On dating apps, you are hardly ever an individual

Mostly you’re an avatar, paid off to competition, height, weight and a sexual position. You are a thumbnail photo in a game which can be as crude as it is brutal on your self-esteem, in the event that you allow it to.

I’ve stopped permitting the racial responses I’ve seen on apps, or received while standing in a bar, arrive at me personally. “Not into Asians”, or the absurdly comical “No rice”. It reminds me of the graffiti I grew up with: “Asians Out”.