Emojis weren’t always as expressive and diversified as they are today, but our beloved symbol script has evolved over time to make everyone feel included. Today, with the help of Tinder, interracial couples from all walks of life now have plenty of emoji options to choose from.
This week, Unicode Consortium, the organization responsible for creating global emojis, released artwork for the 71 new couple emojis will offer different couple combinations of race and gender. The introduction of the new emojis comes to us in response to a Change.org petition Tinder launch in 2018.
Tinder shared an Instagram post in celebration of this milestone. “Together with 50,000+ of you, we petitioned #unicode to #RepresentLove by adding interracial couple emojis—and we WON,” they wrote in the caption. “We’re honored/proud/every phrase expressing joy. Thanks to everyone that showed their support.”
One particular celebrity that’s especially happy to see this inclusion is The Real host Tamera Mowry-Housley, who also serves as a Tinder ambassador. “There’s never been an emoji to represent interracial couples like @adamhousley and me,” she writes, referring to her husband of six years. “But there’s gonna be, thanks to @tinder. I think love is beautiful, so put a🖐🏾in the comments with #RepresentLove if you’re with me!”
Tamera has often spoken about the criticism she’s received for marrying a white man and how it has affected her. During a 2017 episode of The Real, she said, “When we first came out publicly as a couple 12 years ago, I remember a few negative comments, such as ‘Never expected her to be with him!’ But I never expected it to reach this degree of criticism as I got older.”
Thankfully, her husband helps give her a more positive perspective. “My husband, who is so great, said, ‘You know what, Tamera? This is just teaching you to focus on the thousands of people that are for you, as opposed to the very few people who are against you.’ He’s right.”
In a blog post, Tinder explained the lasting impact interracial emojis have on society. “This isn’t just about emojis, folks. Interracial couples have struggled throughout history for acceptance and representation, and these emojis are, literally and figuratively, important symbols,” the claim. “At Tinder, we’re proud of the fact that online dating makes people more likely to date and marry outside of their own race (studies say so). We believe in living how you want to live, and loving who you want to love.”
