Ms. Drucker and Ms. James said they hoped the update would make it easier and safer for transgender people to look for love. Transgender people face far higher rates of violence than the general population, in particular transgender women of color, and Ms. James said that in romantic situations “there’s a stereotype that we are trying to deceive people.”

“Dating for trans people is generally safer via an app like Tinder,” Ms. James said. “I find it much safer to make connections online versus having a stranger approach me in a cafe or bar.”

Ms. Drucker said “disclosing one’s trans status is always stressful” because of the fear of rejection or violence. That is why some people prefer to come out as transgender via text message rather than face-to-face, she said.

“Creating a safe space where a person can swipe right or left, seems like a hassle-free and safe method of allowing trans people to exist without being shamed for their difference,” Ms. Drucker said.

Mr. Rad said the “least visible but most impactful” element of the update was one he hoped could also be used to crack down on other forms of harassment on the service, especially the sexual harassment of women. He described that goal as “ending locker room talk.”

“We completely rewrote and reworked out entire user moderation algorithm and tools,” he said. “We’re now more than ever able to detect harassment and prioritize the queue and inquiries about harassment and react very quickly to ban users who are being harassing.”