eHarmony Settles Gay Lawsuit

Christian dating site eHarmony has finally settled the class action lawsuit which claimed that the company discriminated against gays in California by not letting them use the site.

Under a proposed settlement filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, eHarmony will link its straight and gay Web sites and allow people to use both without paying double fees. Plaintiff's attorney Todd Schneider says the company also agreed to pay about $500,000 to an estimated 150 Californians to settle the class-action suit, plus around $1.5 million in court and attorney's fees. The company didn't admit any wrongdoing. A judge must approve the settlement. A court date is scheduled for Feb. 3.

Last year the company was forced to launch a gay dating site called Compatible Partners as part of the settlement of a similar lawsuit brought by a New Jersey man.