Playfully efficient solicitations for an intimate long term relationship are just a few clicks and buttons away for everyone. But what if you are femme or butch? Circuit queen or Homeboi? Otherwise, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex? The on-line dating scene of the queer community provides a lifeline and human connection for its browsers, in addition to a quick date or potential partner.

Online dating is the 21st Century equivalent of video-dating, that outmoded cliche of 1980s yuppies, with millions of profiles available on the personals tab of your Internet provider that can lead to a night of three-minute speed dates. Or as Hurrydate.com puts it, “Dating should be fun…and in mass quantities.”

AOL and Match.com partnered in December 2003 to create LOVE@AOL, a worldwide network of over 20 million users and nearly one million paying subscribers, reports a Match.com press release. In the same release, wireless dating is said to be emerging as the next market, now that 80 percent of users are no longer shy about admitting their online dating lives.

When a queer person taps into the loose and very large collective of people who have shared their experiences of struggling with their sexual identity, coming-out, being gay-bashed and simply not fitting-in, it can be life-affirming and fun. But there are also hidden dangers.

Sacramento State students Ryan and Shawn use Web sites such as Gay.com and XY.com to find other gay people on campus, and actually met each other through a Web site. Both agree that online dating is probably not the most successful source for a long-term relationship for anyone.

“People mostly care about looks, but you can be more open and honest because of the anonymity,” Shawn say.

There is also the issue of sexual offenders and safety on-line, especially for queer youth.

“People lie online and younger queers might fall victim to gay bashing and impersonators, like men pretending to be women so they can have access to lesbians,” says Ryan, who grew-up in a small rural town outside of Sacramento. “But this is not just a safety issue for queer people.”

Regardless of sexual orientation, all Internet users, especially adolescents and their parents, share concerns about security and sexual predators.

Queer Straight Alliance facilitator Bonnie Sugiyama agrees. While she was a questioning youth, the only outlet she had to explore her sexuality was the Internet.

A photo of yourself looking cute, non-shiny and preferably not on a web-cam is the ultimate bait.

All browsers, queer and straight, should be aware of users whose intentions are more, or rather less, than amiable by limiting personal contact information.-

Even so, the future of online dating looks rosy. Just imagine the back pages of newsweeklies devoid of missed connections and love ads.- Two strangers share a passing glance in traffic, point and press a cell phone button, and in seconds a love connection is made!