eHarmony agrees to allow same-sex ads

TRENTON, N.J., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Internet matchmaker eHarmony.com has agreed to provide services to people seeking same-sex relationships, under a settlement reached Wednesday in New Jersey.

The online dating service was sued in 2005 by Eric McKinley, a gay man from New Jersey, after the matchmaking service refused to take his personal advertisement, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

The lawsuit triggered an investigation into the company by state officials, the newspaper reported.

Under the terms of the settlement, eHarmony agreed to provide a new service for gay men and lesbians by March 31, 2009.

In return for agreeing to the policy change, the complaint against eHarmony was dismissed by the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights.