DATING, A social rendezvous between two people with a dash of romance attached to it, has undergone changes over the last few decades. Earlier, the excitement of dating a person involved secret meetings at favorite jaunts set in a perfect romantic ambience. Of late, this landscape has morphed significantly with the internet playing the middleman by offering ‘online dating’ services. Online dating provides the means for people to meet and get to know each other before real-time meetings.

Online dating, which started in the early-to-mid 20th century became popular in the 1960s and 1970s. It allowed individuals, couples, and groups to meet online and possibly develop a social, romantic, ethnic, or religious relationship.

Using an online dating service to find dates was once frowned upon and even considered daunting but times have changed and so have people. Online dating has become a norm, and is gaining social acceptability around the globe. It also provides people with multiple choices to meet friends, find love, and find people who share the same habits and beliefs.

The online dating industry is a very competitive market as thousands of dating services compete for marketshare globally. The revenue from the industry was $900 million in 2007, and growing more than 70% year-on-year, according to Jupiter Research. Online dating services are currently being offered by various categories of players. Portals: Multi functional online sites offer personal/ matrimonial as one of their unique selling proposition (USP). Yahoo! Personals, Indiatimes Liv2luv. Personalised web sites: These provide matrimonial services and serious relationships for people who are looking for a ‘soul mate’.

As the market grew, many specialised niches emerged, basically theme-based services catering to people with similar interests, passions, geographies, religions, demographics, etc. Examples: Trek Passions.com, Animal Attraction.com, ChristianCafe.com, SeniorFriendFinder.com, garamchai.com, asians4asians.com, Gaydate, etc. Social networking web sites: The raison d’etre of these sites being establishment of communities, and a very interactive/ sharing kind of atmosphere. Such sites offer a common platform for exchanging pictures, videos, e-cards and interacting through chat rooms. Examples: Yahoo! groups, Fropper.com, bigadda.com, etc.

The online dating market in the US continues to grow, but there is stagnation in the number of users paying for access. On the other hand, the online dating sites in Europe, a relatively less saturated market, is attracting new users and will double revenue from 243 million euros in 2006 to 549 million euros in 2011. In 2006, Europeans spent approximately half as much as US users on online dating sites, and in 2011 it is estimated that they will spend more than three-quarters as much. However, by 2011 the European market will have largely matured, growing by just 9% compared to the US market’s 6% growth. Consumer profile/behaviour: Earlier an almost exclusive domain of the youth, there has been a rise in the baby boomers market witnessed by US players — Yahoo! Personals and eHarmony. Niche dating sites like SilverSingles.com, SeniorFriendFinder.com, and PrimeSingles.net have also cropped up to cater to this segment. People are now hiring ‘dating coaches’ and getting trained to improve their dating and relationships building skills.

Business model: The growth of various free dating sites like OkCupid.com, Matchdoctor.com, Bookofmatches.com, Smooth.com and CrazyBlindDate.com have driven the trend of online dating. Advertising by True ($52.2 million), Mate1.com ($20.4 million) and InterActiveCorp (match.com) ($16.1 million) top the online personal advertisers in 2006. As in most online services, the advertising model appears to be winning over the subscription model — however, there is a fee element that does drive up revenue. Live promotions: Europe’s leading web matchmaker Meetic.com sponsored a ‘Street Party’ on Valentine’s eve where young people gathered in the streets of Paris and Milan looking for a partner. They even provided ‘mobile services’ with DJs and speed-dating stands which allowed singles to mingle. Yahoo! personals have free online gift coupons which provide seven day free trial to users. New channels: Match.com’s mobile internet offered by Enpocket’s Dating Engine was launched with a month’s free trial and Valentine’s Day sweepstakes promotion in Feb 2005. Technology: The concept of virtual dating (a combination of online dating and online gaming) is gaining popularity, where sites like Mate4all.com are offering users the chance to date with the help of avatars in a place that resembles the real environment.

One of the major innovations in technology is avatar-based instant messaging. One Website which pioneers the use of avatars is OmniDate.com. Another promising technology is ‘iovation’ which helps online firms prevent fraudulent activities. Video dating gains significance as it provides privacy to users to decide on the relationship with ease. Online dating sites are gaining prominence in India. Indian online dating revenue were $30 million in 2006 showing a growth rate of 50% year-on-year. Internet usage for online dating has increased from 9% in 2006 to 37% in 2007, indicating that all age groups are catching on this trend. There has been a myth among Indians that online dating is synonymous with matrimony. Now this belief is changing and online dating is gaining social acceptance with dating and social networking apart from matrimony.

“Personals are one of the few legitimate billiondollar paid content businesses,” said David Schatsky, president of JupiterResearch. “JupiterResearch projects a steady 16% compound annual growth rate, reaching the figure of $1.9 billion, through 2012 for the category.”

Online dating technology has seen little transformation in the last three years. However, firms like Perfectmatch.com, eHarmony.com; Chemistry.com and True.com are expected to exploit technology for personality profiling. Niche players with huge capital have a great opportunity ahead. New entrants can start their own dating sites with mere technology as a tool. One such firm is Whitelabeldating.com. A concept called relationship exchange will facilitate new participants to start a dating site with zero capital and a minimal knowledge of programming. In India, where up to 90% of all marriages are arranged, domestic online dating companies are racking up some impressive numbers. In the coming years, online dating is expected to grow extensively with a huge market to be tapped.

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL ONLINE DATING REVENUE WAS $900 M IN 2007 INDUSTRY GROWING 70% Y-O-Y INDIAN DATING REVENUE AT $30M IN 2006 REVENUE OF INDIAN SECTOR TO GROW 50% Y-O-Y NET USE FOR DATING AT 37% IN 2007 90% OF MARRIAGES ARE ARRANGED IN INDIA

In a resolution adopted by the association’s governing council, and in an accompanying report, the association issued its most comprehensive repudiation of so-called reparative therapy, a concept espoused by a small but persistent group of therapists, often allied with religious conservatives, who maintain that gay men and lesbians can change.

No solid evidence exists that such change is likely, says the resolution, adopted by a 125-to-4 vote. The association said some research suggested that efforts to produce change could be harmful, inducing depression and suicidal tendencies.

Instead of seeking such change, the association urged therapists to consider multiple options, which could include celibacy and switching churches, for helping clients live spiritually rewarding lives in instances where their sexual orientation and religious faith conflict.

The association has criticized reparative therapy in the past, but a six-member panel added weight to that position by examining 83 studies on sexual orientation change conducted since 1960. Its report was endorsed by the association’s governing council in Toronto, where the association’s annual meeting is being held this weekend.

The report breaks ground in its detailed and nuanced assessment of how therapists should deal with gay clients struggling to remain loyal to a religious faith that disapproves of homosexuality.

Judith Glassgold, a psychologist in Highland Park, N.J., who led the panel, said she hoped the document could help calm the polarized debate between religious conservatives who believe in the possibility of changing sexual orientation and the many mental health professionals who reject that option.

“Both sides have to educate themselves better,” Ms. Glassgold said. “The religious psychotherapists have to open up their eyes to the potential positive aspects of being gay or lesbian. Secular therapists have to recognize that some people will choose their faith over their sexuality.”

One of the largest organizations promoting the possibility of changing sexual orientation is Exodus International, a network of ministries whose core message is “freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ.”

Its president, Alan Chambers, describes himself as someone who “overcame unwanted same-sex attraction.” Mr. Chambers and other evangelicals met with association representatives after the panel was formed in 2007, and he expressed satisfaction with parts of the report that emerged.

NY Times

Even as the gay debate simmers in India, with homosexuals rejoicing at section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (criminalising homosexuality) being abolished, a report in yesterday’s Hindustan Times underlines the sentiment that it is not just the law, but the attitude towards homosexuality that needs to change.

The report headlined: ‘Are you gay? Hospitals ask blood donors in Delhi’ states that several hospitals in the capital ask blood donors their sexual preference. Some ban homosexuals from giving blood, while others discourage them.

Said Vikram Doctor of Gay Bombay, “This policy about banning gays from donating blood is ridiculous. I think it was adopted from the US, which bans gay men from donating blood and I think it was implemented in the 1970s.”

Anand Grover, who was the lead counsel for Naz Foundation (the NGO that filed a petition against section 377), called the policy, “Totally stupid, irregular and illegal.

There are lots of homosexuals with single partners, while heterosexuals may have had multiple partners, so they would be at a higher risk of infection. I would call this a dangerous policy.”

Grover’s argument finds resonance with Dr L Ramakri- shnan, country director, Solidarity and Action Against the HIV Infection in India (Saathii) Trust in Chennai.

He said, “In the US, they follow the Food and Drug Administration guidelines, which have a policy that men who have had sex with men since 1977 are not allowed to donate blood because they are at a higher risk of infection. Some hospitals follow this here, but the Indian situation is different.

Here, HIV usually spreads heterosexually, like in Africa, not male to male.

“Secondly, there is a stigma associated with being homosexual, so how many people will admit they have had sex with a same sex partner on a blood donation form?”

The Section 377 of the IPC as far as it criminalizes gay sex among consenting adults is violation of fundamental rights, said the high court. However, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalizes homosexuality, will continue for non-consensual and non-vaginal sex.

Any kind of discrimination is anti-thesis of right to equality, said the court, while allowing plea of gay rights activists for decriminalization of homosexuality.

A bench of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S Muralidhar said that if not amended, section 377 of the IPC would violate Article 21 of the Indian constitution, which states that every citizen has equal opportunity of life and is equal before law.

Section 377, a law from the British Raj era, says homosexuality and “unnatural sex” is a criminal act.

While the home ministry wanted the petition to be dismissed, the health ministry supported its contention that section 377 criminalized homosexuality per se, it was obstructing the AIDS/HIV prevention efforts among high-risk groups. Whatever the outcome, this is the second time the Delhi high court will be pronouncing on Naz Foundation’s petition against section 377. In 2004, it dismissed the petition at the preliminary stage stating that “an academic challenge to the constitutionality of a legislative provision could not be entertained.” It further said that when no personal injury was caused to the petitioner by this provision, the petition could not be examined.

The foundation then approached the Supreme Court, which disapproved the manner in which the high court had disposed of the matter. SC observed that when there was a debate on this issue the world over, “where is the question of the petition being academic? We are not able to accept the approach of the high court that it is an academic exercise and there is no personal injury.” Accordingly, in 2006, SC directed HC to reconsider the matter in detail. The judgment is coming close on the heels of statements from ministers on the possibility of a legislative intervention because of growing demands from the community of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT). If the judgment serves the purpose of decriminalizing homosexuality, the government will be spared the burden of amending a provision laden with religious and cultural sensitivities.

Interestingly, in the new team of law officers appointed by the government, at least two of them — attorney general Goolam Vahanvati and additional solicitor general Indira Jaising —- have publicly supported the demand for decriminalizing homosexuality.

Source: Times Of India

The march this year will start around 5.30 pm at the intersection of Barakhamba Road and Tolstoy Marg in CP, and will continue along Tolstoy Marg, ending at Jantar Mantar. Monish, a Queer Pride Committee member, says that they were expecting about 300-400 people last time, but at 1200, the turnout exceeded their expectations. “This time too, we’re expecting a huge turnout – around three times that of last year,” he says. He adds that, like last year, they’ll have a Pride party where fundraising will be done through individual financial contributions and volunteer support. The Delhi march coincides with that in Bangalore.

Gay rights activist Leslie Esteves, who organised the march last year, says, “Last time, because it all came through at the last minute, we didn’t have enough time to spread the word. But this time, we are prepared. And so, there’ll be people not only from Delhi, but also from other states in the North.”

Ponni, a queer feminist activist, says, “This year, the march has a little more significance for us as the most of the arguments for the legal case over Article 377 have ended and we’re waiting for the judgment to come, soon after the march takes place.”

Source: Times Of India

This survey was conducted by by Murray Straus, co-director of the UNH Family Research Laboratory and professor of sociology, is based on a 32-nation study.

The research shows that Taiwan has the highest level of social stress while South Korea is on second position and China is on third. And good news for Netherlands, they have the lowest level of social stress.

On the rates of assault Iran is on the Top and Taiwan had the highest rate of severe assaults.

Top ten countries with the highest stressful conditions & violence between partners are:

1. Taiwan
2. South Korea
3. China
4. Russia
5. Tanzania
6. South Africa
7. Hong Kong
8. Japan
9. Lithuania
10. India

This survey was conducted by 14,252 university students from 68 universities in 32 nations in a comprehensive and groundbreaking International Dating Violence Study, he found that the more stress experienced by these students, the greater the probability they had hit a dating, cohabiting, or marital partner.