Out of the net closet

Gay dating websites may further marginalise members of the community by shoehorning members into "Village People cliches" - thereby reinforcing stereotypes, according to a Salford University academic. Ben Light of Salford Business School has called for changes to the way in which sites such as Gaydar categorise members into narrow profile types. "Bikers", "builders" and "military" are some of the 26 descriptions that the site's users can select in the "types I like" category when registering. "Internet dating is one of the most profitable web businesses, and sites such as Gaydar are a valuable resource. However, the site's narrow categories can reinforce stereotypes and cliches," Professor Light said.