Dating site sued for gay discrimination

A woman from California is suing a dating website because she believes that it discriminates against gay people.

Linda Carlson attempted to use online dating service eHarmony to find a female partner, but was unable to do so because the site only has the option for a man to search for a woman or vice versa.

After she wrote to the company asking them to alter their policy, and they refused, she decided to file a lawsuit against it via the Los Angeles County superior court, the Associated Press reports.

In a statement, Ms Carlson said: "Such outright discrimination is hurtful and disappointing for a business open to the public in this day and age." However, the company, founded by clinical psychologist Neil Clark Warren and his wife Marylyn, has denied the charges.

Commenting on the case, eHarmony said: ''The research that eHarmony has developed, through years of research, to match couples has been based on traits and personality patterns of successful heterosexual marriages.

''Nothing precludes us from providing same-sex matching in the future, it's just not a service we offer now based upon the research we have conducted."

The lawsuit claims that the company's policy has violated state laws which permit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.