Apple announced Monday that its
upcoming update will add more than one hundred gender diverse emojis.
“More than one hundred new and
redesigned emoji characters will be available to iPhone and iPad
users this fall with iOS 10,” the
company said on its website. “This exciting update brings more
gender options to existing characters, including new female athletes
and professionals, adds beautiful redesigns of popular emoji, a new
rainbow flag and more family options.”
“Apple is working closely with the
Unicode Consortium to ensure that popular emoji characters reflect
the diversity of people everywhere,” it added.
A 2012 update expanded the emoji
keyboard to include same-sex couples.
Apple is a strong supporter of LGBT
rights. Its CEO, Tim Cook, last year was honored
for his gay rights activism. But Cook has come under fire
recently for hosting a fundraiser for Republican House Speaker Paul
Ryan, an opponent of such rights.
(Related: Tim
Cook to host Hillary Clinton fundraiser.)