Instagram celebrates Pride Month by introducing more inclusive gender options

Instagram has introduced more inclusive gender options in celebration of Pride Month.

In an effort to celebrate the LGBT+ community, this week the social media platform has rolled out several new updates.

One of these updates is the addition of new options when selecting your gender on the app.

Whereas before Instagram users could only select "male", "female" or "not specified", now they can select "male", "female", "prefer not to say" or enter the gender with which you identify in a custom entry field.

The update has been introduced specifically with transgender and gender non-conforming individuals in mind, Instagram states.

New gender options available on social media app (Instagram)

Instagram has also partnered with American LGBT+ organisation GLAAD to identify some of the most popular hashtags used by the LGBT+ community.

These hashtags – which include #lgbt, #bornperfect and #transequalitynow – will be transformed into a rainbow gradient when used in captions and comments, and a rainbow "Story ring" when included in an Instagram Story.

LGBT+ hashtags appear with rainbow gradient (Instagram)

Stories featuring LGBT+ hashtags feature rainbow 'Story ring' (Instagram)

The social media company has also introduced new custom camera effects on the app in celebration of Pride.

The camera effects have been created by a selection of LGBT+ augmented reality artists, including @orbgoddess​, @CodyMesh, @shaunpez and @amberarcadia.

Instagram will also be sharing features on its official account about several inspiring individuals from the LGBT+ community for Pride.

These accounts include Jake Graf, a transgender actor, writer and director who specialises in creating short films about transgender issues; Tanya Compas, an award-winning youth worker and head of youth engagement for UK Black Pride; and Munroe Bergdorf, a DJ and transgender activist.

Bergdorf was recently announced as Childline's first LGBT+ campaigner.

However, three days later, the charity cut ties with the activist – a decision which Bergdorf said on Instagram made her feel "unbelievably sad".

For all the latest news on Pride Month, click here.

Join The Independent for a panel discussion and Q&A as we ask: what is the role of Pride in 2019? Book your tickets today.